Story by Theophilus Chuma
The National Blood Services Zimbabwe is urgently seeking more than 7 500 units of blood to meet festive season requirements.
This comes in the wake of revelations that stocks for blood group O have significantly dwindled
The festive period comes with added pressure and demand for blood due to an increase in road traffic accidents.
A spike in road traffic accidents within the last two months has already painted a gloomy outlook for the festive season as authorities prepare to respond to the anticipated pressure.
At the official launch of the Festive Season Blood Collection Campaign in Harare this Friday, National Blood Services Zimbabwe chief executive officer Ms Lucy Marowa disclosed the urgent need for at least 7 000 units to meet demand.
“As we go for the festive season we are urgently in need of 7 ,460 blood units. Although we have managed to collect 88 percent of our annual requirements we still need the remaining 12 percent to make sure that we cover our requirements,” she said.
The festive season in Zimbabwe is largely associated with a sharp increase in road accidents that result in high demand for blood and blood products.
