THERE has been a significant increase in the usage of blood during the festive season due to a high number of accidents recorded during the holiday period. Traditionally, the demand for blood is usually high during the festive season compared to any other time of the year because of an upsurge in road accidents. Ninety-two people have so far died in traffic accidents this festive season with 333 injured in the 1 285 recorded road traffic accidents between December 15 and Monday. The statistics marked an increase of 20 deaths, compared to last year during the same period when 72 accident-related deaths were recorded. The demand for blood especially during the festive period has seen the National Blood Services of Zimbabwe (NBSZ) embarking on campaigns to solicit blood donations from members of the public. The country requires an average daily supply of 315 units of blood groups A, B, and AB to cover cases of trauma and emergencies countrywide. During major holidays, the NBSZ uses an extra 10 percent of the daily requirement due to increased cases of trauma and road traffic accidents. In an interview yesterday, NBSZ communications officer, Mr Kudakwashe Chidziya said the demand for blood, especially during the period the country has seen their organisation embarking on campaigns to solicit blood donations from members of the public. bhadbhabie “As NBSZ we had set a target to collect 6 960 units of blood to cater for accidents during the festive season. However, owing to the high number of road accidents recorded so far, we urge the public to continuously donate blood so that we have adequate blood for every individual in need of blood,” he said
Mr Chidziya said the NBSZ is running community outreach programmes to encourage donations from members of the public. “We are intensifying our collections through community outreach programmes in the form of galas countrywide to raise awareness on the importance of donating blood. Through these galas, we have also managed to collect blood as most of these communities have been accommodative and cooperative,” he said. “The objectives of the campaign are to ensure that NBSZ meets the national requirements by ensuring that there is enough blood in the blood bank. We are doing this through educating the public about the importance of blood donation and how it saves lives.”
Mr Chidziya said 70 percent of blood collections made by NBSZ come from schoolchildren. He implored citizens to donate so that the country has enough stocks to cater for emergencies during the holiday.– The Chronicle
