adminNBSZ national public affairs manager Ms Esther Masunda said this yesterday.
She said last year they collected 72 000 and the target for this year was 75 000 units.
“We want to boost the national stock levels because they are low after coming out of the festive season where there was an increase in demand for blood,” said Ms Masunda.
She said there had been an improvement in the collection of blood over the past three years and NBSZ would continue collecting blood in order to have blood in the blood banks.
“In 2009 we collected 42 074 units and that figure increased to 58 930 for 2010 and last year the figure was 72 000,” she said.
Ms Massundah urged the adult population to be more involved in donating blood as they were the group that uses blood the most.
“School children contribute the most to our blood levels with 80 percent whereas the adults contribute the least with 12 percent yet they use up the most,” she said.
Ms Masunda called for those who have donated in the past to continue donating.
“We want to increase donor retention that is those who have donated before. The figure is at 36 percent, we have set a target of 40 percent for this year,” she said.
Ms Masunda said more than 200 blood units were needed daily to cater for the demand from hospitals.
She said last year NBSZ provided between 93 and 98 percent blood that was requested by hospitals countrywide.
“In Mutare, we provided 95 percent of hospital demand and in Masvingo we provided 96,6 percent,” Ms Masunda.
She reminded stakeholders that donating blood was everyone’s responsibility.
Community relations manager for Matabeleland region Mr Sifundo Ngwenya said 15 732 units were collected from the Matabeleland region.
He said the provinces need 43 units daily.
“The units that we collected fall slightly short of the target we set of 18 000 units last year.
“We actually need 1 700 usable units per month because what we collect is screened for diseases or can be damaged during packing and transportation,” said Mr Ngwenya.
Online Reporter