AS preparations for the World Blood Donor Day gather momentum, the National Blood Service of Zimbabwe (NBSZ) yesterday (10/05/2019) held a clean-up awareness day which was meant to raise awareness for the blood donor day to be held next month.
By Michael Gwarisa
The event was also a response to President Emerson Mnangagwa’s call where he set aside the first Friday of each calendar month as a National Clean-Up Day.
Speaking at the clean-up day which was later followed by a blood donation session, Ministry of Health & Child Care (MoHCC), Directory Pathology Services, Dr Maxwell Hove applauded the NBSZ for championing various blood collection programs to ensure the blood bank never runs dry.
“For those of you who may not be aware, with effect from the 1st of July 2018, blood was made free by the Government for all public health institutions meaning patients who are treated all our hospitals needing blood, no longer pay anything as Government is now meeting the costs.
“This positive development has resulted in NBSZ scaling up their national collections and activities to ensure the blood bank is well stocked. Thanks to all the blood donors including those from this school and the community, have made it possible for the blood bank to have enough stocks to supply our hospitals with enough blood,” said Dr Hove.
He added that Zimbabwe will be joining the rest of the world in commemorating World Blood Donor Day on 14 June, and the day is set aside to create wider awareness of the need for safe blood and blood products for transfusion as well as thank the silent voluntary heroes who give their blood voluntarily for people who are in need of it for their survival.
“The theme for this year’s campaign is blood donation and universal access to safe blood transfusion, as a component of achieving universal health coverage with the slogan “Safe blood for all.”
“This is meant to raise awareness of the universal need for safe blood in the delivery of health care and the crucial roles that voluntary donations play in achieving the goal of universal health coverage. Throughout the campaign, a series of media programmes are lined up to educate the public and bring awareness of the efforts and systems in place that ensure that the quality and safety of blood in Zimbabwe meets the required standards.”
Meanwhile, the clean up which was held in Kuwadzana 7 was attended by various government dignitaries from the ministries of Education and health as well as members of the School Development Association (SDA) for Kuwadzan 2 High School. The NBSZ was represented by the Public Affairs Manager; Ms Esther Massundah and NBSZ Head Planning & Recruitment, Mr Tichaona Saira.
The sponsor NetOne was represented by Head Public Relations; Dr Eldrette Shereni. Also in attendance were NBSZ staff, Net One staff members and other guests who joined the clean- up.
The 2019 World Blood Donor Day celebrations will be held in Rwanda, an event which will see Zimbabwe and the rest of the world converging in Kigali, the Capital City of Rwanda. Rwanda becomes the second African country to host the World Blood Donor day after South Africa who hosted the event in 2004.
Zimbabwe is among the six countries in the world that have been chosen to make a presentation at the World Blood Donor Day Academy Day.
