Harare : The United States Embassy and Zimbabwes sole blood bank launched a national campaign this week to encourage Zimbabwean adults to donate blood. (Pictured: Health minister and U.S. Embassy deputy chief of mission tour the mobile blood collection center)
The Give Love, Give Blood campaign started on Valentines Day (February 14), the annual day celebrating love and affection. Through a partnership between the National Blood Service Zimbabwe (NBSZ) and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) office in Harare, the campaign hopes to raise Zimbabwes blood bank collections to over 65,000 units of blood in 2011.
The downtown Harare launch at the First Street pedestrian mall featured Health Minister Dr. Henry Madzorera and U.S. Embassy Deputy Chief of Mission David Abell giving blood to encourage other Zimbabwean adults to follow their example. Throughout the day, members of the public donated 21 units of blood in the city centre, while an additional 20 units were collected at the U.S. Embassy from local and American staff.
The reason why NBSZ experiences seasonal shortages is because, as adults, we have abdicated our roles and responsibilities to the youth. We must recognize we all have a role to play, said Madzorera. According to statistics, seventy percent of total blood donation reserves at NBSZ is from young Zimbabweans, yet conversely eighty percent of blood bank reserves are transfused to adults. This creates a grossly unfair situation by the adult population, who in my view should do some soul searching and contribute to the well being of the nation, said the health minister.
Abell, Deputy Chief of Mission at the U.S. Embassy, noted that U.S. support to the national blood bank is used to improve and maintain blood safety standards. Support to the National Blood Service Zimbabwe is provided by the U.S. Presidents Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) through CDC so that the blood bank can reposition itself to satisfy demand for safe blood at affordable prices in Zimbabwe, said Abell. Through PEPFAR, the U.S. is providing over US$55 million in 2011 to various HIV/AIDS-related health programs in Zimbabwe.
Out of this amount, NBSZ is receiving $1.8 million this year, said Abell. He said the funding would support collection and testing of blood, including the procurement of Nucleic Acid Testing (NAT) equipment to enhance blood safety before it is used. All donated blood is tested for transfusion-transmissible infections (TTIs) and units of blood that test HIV positive are incinerated.
Officials from the Blood Bank noted that overall collections, including those from school donors, have decreased in recent years. In 2009, 42,000 units were collected and the target for 2011 is 65,000.
Post published in: News