NBSZ Chief Executive Officer, Lucy Marowa
BY MUNYARADZI BLESSING DOMA
The Chief Executive Officer of National Blood Service Zimbabwe (NBSZ) Lucy Mary Marowa, has called on the media to play its role to drive positive change by encouraging the population to donate blood in their numbers so as to save lives.
Marowa revealed this on Friday as she launched the Festive Season Campaign for 2024.
“NBSZ continues to urge the media to encourage the Zimbabwe population to donate blood in their numbers. “Their new thrust should be asking the question: when last did you donate blood?
“They should send the message home that blood donation is the new culture and everyone’s responsibility,” said Marowa.
She added that the demand of blood is extremely high during the festive season due to various factors such as road traffic accidents, hence as NBSZ they appeal to all eligible donors to donate.
“NBSZ targeted to collect 88 430 units of whole blood in 2024.
“From January to November 2024, the target was to collect 80970 whole blood units.
“The actual number of collections from January to November 2024 is 71 544.
“This is 88 percent (71 544/ 80 970) achievement for January to November 2024
“This is also 71 544/88 430 which is 81 percent achievement of the annual target.
“Total collections for 2023 were 70 187.
“2024 collections to date have already surpassed 2023 collections.
“The target for December 2024, the festive season month is 7 460 whole blood units,” said Marowa.
She added that the NBSZ festive season period runs from Mid-November to Mid-January.
And for easy handling of statistics, the target for the festive season is summararily the target collections for December.
“Blood collections will target 85 Pledge 2025 (P25) Blood Drives nationwide, Corporates and communities.
“NBSZ static clinics throughout the country will be open for walk in blood donors except Masvingo branch.
“The clinics will remain open and only close during public holidays.
“The public holidays are Wednesday 25 December 2024 and Thursday 26 December 2024 and Wednesday 1 January 2025.
“Our mobile teams will also be carrying out blood drives in various locations which will be communicated on our social media platforms.
“The travelling public should exercise extreme caution and strive to prevent road traffic accidents.
“Road traffic accidents will put pressure on the demand for the already constrained supply of blood and blood products which is typical of this time of the year.”
She further called on corporates and individuals to partner with NBSZ in the collection of blood throughout the festive season.
