THE Zimbabwe blood bank is running dry due to a shortage of
consumables that are used to collect blood from donors.
Instead of the normal five-day stock, the National Blood
Services of Zimbabwe (NBSZ) used to have, it is currently operating on a
three-day supply.
The shortage of the consumables, which include blood bags
and test kits, according to NBSZ spokesperson Esther Massundah was a result of
depressed supplies during the lockdown period.
“Our supply of blood and blood products to health
institutions is currently constrained,” Massundah said.
Massundah, who was speaking during a virtual meeting, said
funding and procurement challenges had hampered importation of the consumables.
“We are expecting arrival of part of these critical
supplies by Friday, June 5 which will lead us to work all weekend in order for
normal services to resume by Monday,” she said.
The NBSZ laboratories will remain operational throughout
the weekend to clear any testing backlog and ensure that there is some normalcy
on the supply of blood to the hospitals.
“These above said challenges have resulted in NBSZ reducing
its planned blood collection schedules and calling of blood donors to our
static clinics.”
Meanwhile, NBSZ has a raft of activities lined up for the
traditional blood donor month which is held annually in June. The activities are a run-up to World Blood Donor Day on
June 14.
This year’s theme is Safe Blood Saves Lives” with the
slogan Give Blood And Make the World a Healthier Place”.
According to the World Health Organisation, the idea is to
focus on the contribution an individual giver can make to improve health for
others in the community.
Blood donations are needed all over the world to ensure
individuals and communities have access to safe and quality-assured blood and
blood products in both normal and emergency situations.
Through the campaign, people from all over the world are
called upon to be life-savers by volunteering to donate blood regularly.
“We are mobilising for World Blood Donor Day in terms of
resources and funding opportunities for capitalisation,” Massundah said.
Newsday
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