adminManicaland Correspondent
National Blood Services Zimbabwe (NBSZ) has appealed for blood donations of Group O, whose stocks have become critically low in Manicaland due to an increase in demand over the past few months.
NBSZ Mutare spokesperson Mr Nick Muparutsa said the recent downward review in blood prices from $120 per pint to $50 led to a significant increase in demand for blood and blood products.
This created shortages in common blood groups and the provision of blood to be accessed for free in public institutions later this year point to further rise in demand for the product.
“There are shortages of blood Group O, which is the blood type for an estimated 52 percent of the local population,” said Mr Muparutsa.
“NBSZ is still experiencing challenges in meeting blood Group O orders, especially in Harare where we have the major referral hospitals and we have to send in stock from Mutare to assist in supply as the inflow has not been enough to meet full demand.”
Patients requiring blood or blood products from public health institutions are set to access them for free with effect from June, as Government is finalising modalities of wholly subsidising all associated transfusion costs.
Online Reporter