By Kuda Pembere
High demand for blood and blood products during the just ended festive season has led to the depletion of Blood Group O stocks in Zimbabwe.
According to the National Blood Service of Zimbabwe (NBSZ), 52 percent of Zimbabwe’s population are type O blood group, and this makes it the most sought after blood type at any given time, hence the perennial shortages. Group O can donate red blood cells to anybody. It’s the universal donor. Type O positive blood is one of the first to run out during a shortage due to its high demand. On the other hand 24 to 26 percent are blood group A and 18 percent are group Bs.
NBSZ Chef Executive Officer, Ms Lucy Marowa said type O stocks are currently sitting on less than a day’s supply at the capital at the main blood bank in Harare.
I would like to advise the nation that at the moment we are running critically low of blood group O. We are well stocked in terms of the other blood groups which are group A, group B and blood group AB. Unfortunately when it comes to blood group O we are critical at the moment in particular Harare branch where we are sitting on less than a day stock. This means that we are unable to meet the requirements of our client hospitals that are serviced from the Harare branch,” she said.
In other branches across the country, the blood group O, Ms Marowa said, could run out any time.
“When it comes to other hospitals that are serviced from the rest of the regions, that is Bulawayo, Masvingo, Mutare and Gweru, we have between one and a half to two days supply of blood group O, but this means it can run out at any given time.
“Therefore, I do call upon the nation to come again in their numbers, especially if they know that they are blood group O. The rest of the blood groups, we have just enough stocks,” Ms Marowa noted.
Meanwhile, the NBSZ has engaged Redan Fuel, one of Zimbabwe’s largest fuel retailers in a partnership that will see blood donors get a fuel coupon upon donation.
“We have the REDAN blood drive that is happening on Friday, 5th of January in all the five branches and we do call upon the public to come in and donate blood and REDAN will give you a 5 litre coupon of petrol or diesel as you require just to thank you for coming in your numbers. So if you are in Harare, you come to REDAN, Cork Road and Leopold Takawira and you go and give your blood there and you receive a 5 litre coupon of diesel. If you are in Mutare, Redan, flyover, it’s the place to go to.
“Then when you are in Masvingo, Redan Pangolin, that’s the place to go to. Then in Bulawayo, Redan, Southside, that’s the place to go to,” she said.
NBSZ’s static clinics are open till Saturday.
“So let’s meet but in between our static clinics are open throughout the day starting from tomorrow the 2nd of January right through up to the weekend which is Saturday. Please let’s meet there,” Ms Marowa noted.
