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Loveness Bepete Chronicle Reporter
BLOOD shortages have hit the National Blood Services of Zimbabwe (NBSZ) due to the increased number of accident-related injuries during the festive holiday.Between December 15 and December 29, 2014, 630 people were injured in road accidents compared to 487 the previous year.
NBSZ Matabeleland region public relations officer Sifundo Ngwenya said they were appealing to people to come forward and donate blood.
He said not only accident victims but also cancer patients, labour wards and other people faced with various problems needed blood transfusions.
“We managed to collect approximately 13,700 blood units for the festive season but we are faced with shortages simply because inflow of supplies is much lower than the uptake,” Ngwenya said.
He said the organisation was going round the city looking for blood donations.
“I appeal to members of the public to help save a life. It’s the festive season and many people need blood and so we really need to come forward and donate,” Ngwenya said.
He challenged adults to donate blood, saying students were the organisation’s largest blood donors.
Every year approximately 100,000 packs of blood are transfused in the country — accidents and anaemic patients consuming 60 percent of blood bank supplies, while the other 40 percent of collected blood is consumed by haemorrhaging mothers.
Online Reporter