We are asking members to please donate their blood to the National Blood Transfusion Service, said Pastor Rod of Celebration Churches International in Borrowdale, Harare. Celebration Church is frequented by mainly rich, upper class Zimbabweans. There is a serious blood shortage and they (NBTS) have asked that I tell you to please donate blood urgently, Pastor Rod said in church.
Zimbabwe has a very high HIV prevalence rate despite the fact that figures released by the Ministry of Health and Child Welfare have shown a decrease recently. The last time the HIV prevalence rate was released was under the former Minister of Health and Child Welfare, Dr David Parirenyatwa who said the decrease could be related to less sexual activity especially among the youth.
The NBTS confirmed that it was facing a serious blood shortage and what was worrying was that citizens were afraid to be tested for the HIV virus before donating their blood. People think that we will tell them that they are positive if and when they donate their blood, said a NBTS senior official.
But what we are saying is that only those with clean blood should come and help us especially during this time when the festive season is upon us. People are dying on our roads and there are many accidents nationally. The road accident rate last year shot up in Zimbabwe with more than 100 serious accidents reported nationally.
Post published in: News