National blood bank stocked to cover the holidays
Story by Abigirl Tembo, Health Editor
THE National Blood Service Zimbabwe (NBSZ) has assured the nation that its blood stocks are stable, sitting between three and five days’ cover for most blood groups.
The organisation has appealed to the public to be responsible on the roads to avoid accidents which increase demand for blood.
After the launch of the NBSZ Festive Season Blood Collection Campaign on the 13th of November with a target to collect 13 800 units of blood, the organisation is confident of meeting the demand during the festive period.
National Blood Service Zimbabwe chief executive officer, Ms Lucy Marowa said, “The National Blood Services Zimbabwe embarked on a festive season campaign on the 13th of December to prepare for the festive season. Our target was to collect 13 800 units this is meant to tide us over the Christmas and New Year holidays.
“I am happy to say that we have received immense support from both blood donors and corporates in terms of support for the blood drives that we have been conducting all over the country.
“We are on course to meet the blood demand that we anticipate will arise over the festive season. As of now, we are sitting on between three and five days of cover for most blood groups, but when it comes to blood group O, we have between one and three days cover, Blood Group O is the highest blood group that is required by most patients and as such it is very difficult to keep five days cover.”
The Government of Zimbabwe has highly subsidised blood, making it free in all public hospitals as it moves to ensure universal health coverage for its citizens.
