The Sunday News
Mollet Ndebele, Sunday News Reporter
THE National Blood Services Zimbabwe (NBSZ) says it has enough blood stocks to cover for the anticipated increase in demand that may occur during the festive season.
NBSZ has over the past months worked towards increasing its stocks ahead of the festive season that is usually characterised by road traffic accidents, pushing up the demand for blood.
NBSZ Southern Region manager Mr Ntuthuko Nyathi said they were still recruiting more donors and were confident that stocks will be enough to cater for the anticipated demand.
“Going by our current blood collection targets and the strategies that we have put in place to ensure continuous recruitment of donors we are confident that we will be able to meet the high demand of blood and blood products during the festive season arising from the high vehicular accidents common with this period,” said Mr Nyathi.
He said even though they have sufficient blood, the oganisation was still short of rare blood group types such as blood group O.
“We encourage group O who are due to donate during this period to come forth and donate blood. There is greater demand for group O since 52 percent of our population is blood group O. Group O is also a universal blood group meaning that it is compatible with all other blood groups.
“The donated blood can save you, your family or friends because you never know who will be in unfortunate circumstances to need blood,” said Mr Nyathi.
