Speaking to NewsDay yesterday, NBSZ chief executive Lucy
Marowa said while people were willing to donate blood, there were inadequate
resources such as blood bags and test kits to collect the blood.
“The problem is not about blood donors, it is about resources.
We are running short of resources that are a challenge on our side in terms of
blood collection.
“Donors are there and they are willing to donate. As an
organisation, we are constrained in terms of the resources that we need in
order for us to collect the blood that we need,” she said. “It is a myriad of
challenges. It is not only financial problems, but logistics and access to foreign
currency, among other things. The bottom line is we do not have blood bags and
test kits at the moment. The issue of blood donations is a very emotional one.
People will come out in their numbers to donate so that they can save lives and
mobilise people to donate.
“If we do not have blood bags to collect blood, definitely
donors will be turned away, that is another serious problem. The shortage of
blood is affecting both public and private institutions alike, and there is no
preferential treatment on the basis of financial well-being.”
Marowa urged blood donors to keep on donating, adding that
they would continue collecting blood using the little resources at their
disposal.
Recently, NBSZ spokesperson Kuda Chidziya said the blood
situation needed immediate intervention.
“As NBSZ, we are short of all blood types. Statistically,
we are below our average stocks and we cannot even meet a day’s demands. With
this, we continuously urge people to donate blood,” Chidziya said.
“The shortage has been perpetuated by the recent closure of
schools. That is where we get most of our blood. There are also other factors
which are beyond our control.” Newsday
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