Story by Raynald Ngwarati
CHURCHES and faith-based organisations have been called upon to collaborate with the National Blood Services Zimbabwe in actively promoting blood donation initiatives among their congregations.
With an ever-growing demand for blood supply nationwide, faith-based organisations have been cited as a key social institution in the promotion of the blood donation culture among congregants, since they hold greater influence on their demographics.
Commemorating their Worldwide Blood Drive for the 13th year running in Zimbabwe, the World Mission Society Church of God partnered with the NBSZ in a blood donation exercise, where calls for more religious institutions to come on board were made.
“As a church, we must also be the salt and the light of the church, so we emphasise the display of the love of Christ through voluntary activities. So we encourage all the other churches to have such events, so that they can save lives. So the church has large numbers, so we encourage them utilise their numbers,” World Mission Society Church of God Deacon Wandile Tshuma said.
“Christ shed His precious blood, so blood donation has a similar meaning. By sacrificing ourselves, we can save one’s life. As we have learnt, through one donation we can save three lives. So as our Christ did, we have to show love to our neighbours.” Overseer, Jihun Kang noted.
“We see God’s love when He saves people through his blood. He began the new Passover of the covenant to set free many people through his blood, so if I see my neighbor who has lost his blood, what can I do as a Christian?” World Mission Society Church of God, Deacon Tapiwa Toruvanda.
The NBSZ team also emphasised the importance of donating blood when approaching national holidays.
“The first blood donor was Jesus Christ, so we have also been saved by the blood. So, we are saying the churches, with all their congregants, can also help to save a life. We are going into the Heroes holiday very soon, so we need an adequate stock of blood for the holidays. Zimbabwe requires at least 315 units of blood per day to cater for maternity wards, accident victims, and other medical conditions, making blood donation a priority,” NBSZ Team Leader Blood Donor
Coordinators Tichaona Saira said.
The World Mission Society Church of God has carried out over a thousand blood drives around the world and is one of the leading faith-based institutions that have been partnering with the NBSZ since 2012.
