Tag: NBSZ

Shortage of Blood Group O Hits Zimbabwe After Festive Season

Kuda Pembere

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…

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Zimbabwe’s Blood Bank to collect over 13,000 Blood Units during Festive Season

Michael Gwarisa

The National Blood Services of Zimbabwe (NBSZ), has set an ambitious target to collect 13,370 blood units during the upcoming festive season, at the back of innovative programs targeting existing and new blood donors. By Michael Gwarisa The festive season in Zimbabwe is largely associated with increased road accidents that result in high demand for blood and blood products. The Festive season also coincides with school closures and depressed blood collections since schools are the blood bank’s major blood collection sources. According to NBSZ, should they meet their festive season…

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Blood For Fuel Coupons: Has The NBSZ Finally Struck The Right Code?

Michael Gwarisa

THE 2018 proclamation by the then Minister of Health and Child Care (MoHCC), Dr David Parirenytwa of a free blood initiative in all public health institutions has resulted in increased demand for the precious liquid. As a result, the country’s blood bank has been running on less than the required stocks for a prolonged period now. By Michael Gwarisa According to global blood stocks standards, a healthy blood bank should have at least five days’ supply at any given time. However, in most cases, the Zimbabwean blood bank, the National…

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Here is why Blood is expensive in Zim

Michael Gwarisa

For a long time, there has been disgruntlement from various sections of society over the highly priced precious liquid of blood in Zimbabwe. The bone of contention over years has been around the cost of blood and blood products despite the fact that the National Blood Service of Zimbabwe (NBSZ) gets blood free of charge from blood donors. By Michael Gwarisa In 2018, the Ministry of Health and Child (MoHCC), then under the regime of Dr David Parirenyatwa launched the Free Blood Initiative that would see pregnant women and vulnerable…

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NBSZ Pays Tribute To Blood Donors

Michael Gwarisa

THE National Blood Service of Zimbabwe (NBSZ), has acknowledged the immense role blood donors play in ensuring the blood bank is fully stocked to meet the ever growing demand for blood and blood products. By Michael Gwarisa Zimbabwe today (14 June 2022) joined the rest of the world to commemorate World Blood Donor Day. In an interview with HealthTimes, NBSZ Chief Executive Officer, Ms Lucy Marowa said there has been tremendous improvement in blood collections despite existing operational challenges. I want to thank our blood donors for the support that…

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First Capital Bank Injects US$30,000 Towards NBSZ Solar Powered Cold Chain Initiative

Michael Gwarisa

FINANCIAL services concern, First Capital Bank Zimbabwe (FCB), has donated an amount to the tune of US$30,000 for a low cost renewable energy solution pilot project to complement the blood bank’s cold chain power system. By Michael Gwarisa The US$30,000 is part the US$180,000 that is required by be National Blood Service of Zimbabwe (NBSZ) to complete the solar project which when fully implemented, will ease the power outages induced woes the blood bank has been experiencing of late due to persistent and recurring power cuts. The NBSZ cold chain…

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Hospitals Suspend Non-Emergency Surgeries Due To Blood Shortages

Michael Gwarisa

THE blood stocks crises obtaining in the country’s health sector has pushed most major hospitals in Zimbabwe to defer non-emergency surgeries and prioritise urgent surgical cases. By Michael Gwarisa The development comes in the midst of acute blood shortages as a result of dwindling blood stocks at the blood bank which has been operating at below the required five days normal supply since the month of July. The lockdown measures have also greatly contributed to the declining stocks as blood donors could not travel to blood donation sites. According to…

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Health Ministry Applauded For Sustaining Free Blood Initiative

Michael Gwarisa
Ms Lucy Marowa NBSZ Chief Executive Officer

THE National Blood Service of Zimbabwe (NBSZ) says the Ministry of Health and Child Care (MoHCC) has remained true to their word in supporting the country’s free blood initiative, a facility that facilitates free access to blood and blood products for vulnerable citizens in all public health institutions. By Michael Gwarisa The free blood initiative was launched in 2018 by the then minister of heath, Dr David Parirenyatwa where government committed to funding the initiative using funds generated from the health levy. In an Interview with HealthTimes, NBSZ Chief Executive…

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NBSZ Sets 97,000 Units Blood Collection Target For 2021

Michael Gwarisa
Epharaim Mubayi

THE National Blood Service of Zimbabwe (NBSZ) is targeting to collect an ambitious 97,500 units of blood for the year 2021 despite ongoing COVID-19 induced challenges. By Michael Gwarisa The  target also comes in the face at a time the blood bank is recovering from a dry period whereby  reserves from blood banks branches around the country had been struggling to maintain normal blood stocks  of at least least five days due to travel restrictions that saw most donors failing to access blood clinics to donate blood in the first…

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#JUSTIN: Blood Stocks Gradually Improve

Michael Gwarisa
Epharaim Mubayi

Blood bank pins hopes on schools reopening THE  situation at the blood bank is gradually returning to normal amidst indications that at least four National Blood Service Zimbabwe (NBSZ) branches are currently running at five days stock levels which is the normal levels for a healthy blood bank . By Michael Gwarisa The development comes at the back of a national call that was made by the the blood bank last month for donors to come forward and donate blood amidst indications that the blood stocks levels were sitting on…

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