By Anotida Shamiso Kwami
The National Blood Services of Zimbabwe ( NBSZ ) is pinning its hopes on the reopening of tertiary institutions to boost the country’s blood bank .
Almost 80 % of the blood stocks donated to the blood bank are made by school going children whose supplies have been affected by the limited attendance in schools.
Adults contribute about 20% of blood collections although a marginal shift to above 30% was being noticed mainly due to efforts to recruit more adult donors in view of the constrained supplies from schools.
In February the National Blood Services of Zimbabwe (NBSZ) made an appeal to donors to come forward and donate blood as stocks were running low due to the Covid 19 induced lockdown .
In an interview with Skyz Metro fm news Southern Region Planning and Recruitment officer at the NBSZ , Sfundo Ngwenya said blood stocks were struggling to recover from the decline in supplies .
Ngwenya added that they were now taking advantage of the opening of tertiary institutions to cover the gap.
” If schools had been opened full time it would have made a huge significance towards the blood drive but since they are attending in a staggered manner it will come as an alleviation but it will take some time for the blood bank to stabilise .”
Ngwenya encouraged members of the community to come in their large numbers to donate blood.
