Munyaradzi Blessing Doma

The National Blood Service Zimbabwe has appealed to eligible Zimbabweans to donate blood, warning that stocks of Blood Group O remain below the recommended level despite overall supplies remaining stable.

Speaking at a press conference in Harare on Monday ahead of World Blood Donor Day commemorations, NBSZ Chief Executive Officer Lucy Marowa called on both former and first-time donors to step forward and help strengthen the country's blood reserves.

World Blood Donor Day is commemorated globally on June 14 each year, but Zimbabwe will hold its celebrations on June 12 at John Tallach High School in Bulawayo under the theme, “One Drop of Humanity: Give Blood, Save Lives.”

Marowa encouraged Zimbabweans to embrace voluntary blood donation, saying every contribution has the potential to save lives.

“Let us go out there, bring a friend if you have never done that before. Let us take our friends and families to the nearest blood centre and you, as a blood donor or potential blood donor, do not leave without joining the river of blood donation,” she said.

“Together we can save the nation of Zimbabwe through that one drop that makes the river of life.”

She urged former donors to resume donating and challenged those who have never donated to consider the impact they could have on someone's life.

“If you used to be a blood donor, step forward and restart your journey. If you have not donated blood before, this may be a good time to ask yourself why have I not done this before?” Marowa said.

“Bring a friend, bring a family member and maybe you may make the difference for your own family or your own friend by simply making that one life-changing donation. Let's fill up our blood banks.”

Providing an update on national blood stocks, Marowa said NBSZ measures supplies based on the number of days the available blood can meet demand.

“When we say we have adequate stock, we are looking at a minimum of five days' supply of blood,” she said.

According to the latest figures, Blood Group A currently has eight days' cover, while Blood Group B has 13 days' cover. However, Blood Group O, which is often in highest demand, has only between 2.5 and three days' cover.

“So that means that we need more of Blood Group O than the other blood groups,” Marowa said.

“So we are not critical, I will emphasise we are not critical, but at the same time we would like to make sure that we have enough. So our O is not at the ideal level.”

She encouraged people with Blood Group O to donate so that stocks can be increased to the recommended minimum of five days' cover, which would provide a buffer in the event of emergencies that disrupt blood collection efforts.

Marowa also highlighted the NBSZ Blood Donor Benefits Policy, which rewards regular donors and provides support when blood is needed by them or their immediate family members.

“This is a programme where we are saying if you have given a minimum of 10 times continuously, when your last donation is valid within the last 12 months, meaning you are a current donor, should you or a close relative require blood, we will be able to give it to them free of charge if you are in a private institution,” she said.

The policy applies to donors, their spouses, parents and children, but excludes siblings, aunts, uncles and friends.

Marowa said school-going donors qualify for the benefits after five donations, recognising that it takes longer for younger donors to reach the 10-donation threshold required for adults.