By Vimbayi Mukarati
Being a Form 3 student at an all girls school , I really didn’t have much things on my plate. Young and adventurous as I was, I found myself joining almost every club and taking part in most of the extracurricular activities that the school offered. When the National Blood Services Zimbabwe (NBSZ) team visited my school, my friends and I just sneaked into the hall even though we knew that we were still under age. When I saw other people donating blood, I felt this urge to donate too more like #FearOfMissingOut and I just had to lie about my date of birth. That is how I became a blood donor ! I may have started donating blood because of a childish and stupid reason but now that I’m older, I now understand the importance of donating blood–the need to save people’s lives. How many of you also have a story to tell ? How many have even thought about donating blood ? Today , as we celebrate the good works that the blood donors do after every 4 months, I would also like to urge those who have never donated blood to give it a thought! I’m just about to turn 21 but I’ve donated 15 times already, that should be enough motivation for you right?
I’ve heard people saying, “Why should I donate blood when they then give it to the patient’s with a cost. You need to know that after collecting the blood from the donors, there is some purification as well as some blood tests that need to be done and this is quite expensive. So we really can not crucify them for selling the blood can we? The need for safe blood is universal. Safe blood is critical both for treatments and urgent interventions. The blood is needed for patients suffering from life-threatening conditions in order for them to live longer and with a higher quality of life and supports compositemedical and surgical procedures. Blood is also vital for treating the wounded during emergencies of all kinds (natural disasters, accidents, armed conflicts) and has an essential, life-saving role in maternal and neonatal care.
Access to safe blood is still a privilege of the few. Most low and middle income countries struggle to make safe blood available because donations are low and equipment to test blood is scarce. Globally, 42% of blood is collected in high-income countries, which constitute only 16% of the world’s population.An adequate supply of safe blood can only be made possible through regular donations by voluntary unpaid blood donors. This is why there is aspecial day to thank blood donors and encourage more people to give blood freely. World Blood Donor Day takes place every year on 14 June. This day also serves to raise awareness about the global need for safe blood and how everyone can contribute.
This year‘s theme is ‘Safe Blood Saves Lives’ whereas the slogan is ‘Give blood and make the world a healthy place‘Do you wish to save the lives of accident victims or mothers who have complications during delivery? Do you want to make this world a healthy place? All you have to do is make a decision to be a blood donor today! This will not even cost you anything!
The day and the theme are also a call to action for governments, national health authorities and national blood transfusion services to provide adequate resources and put in place systems and infrastructures to increase the collection of blood from voluntary blood donors, to provide quality donor care, to promote and implement appropriate clinical use of blood and to set up systems for the oversight and surveillance on the whole chain of blood transfusion.
You might be asking yourself this question “Is it still safe to donate blood during this covid19 pandemic?” I also did not have the answer to this question until yesterday when I heard a guest speaker from NBSZ talking about it on Star FM. She said that currently there is no evidence that covid19 can be transmitted through blood.Blood donation agencies are committed to the highest standard of safety and infection control to keep healthy donors safe from covid19. There’s also the question of people getting tested for covid19 before they donate blood.The answer is that ,your temperature will be checked and you’ll be screened verbally for symptoms, but you will not be tested for COVID-19 when you donate blood. You will also be asked about symptoms and signs of infection, if you have been around anyone else who may have a viral infection and if you have, you will be asked not to donate at that time.
So, where can one donate blood in Zimbabwe?! For those in Harare, the NBSZ offices are located at 53 Mazowe Street North, Belgravia next to Parirenyatwa Hospital as well as at the Joina City Shopping Mall in the Second floor. For those in Bulawayo, you can find them at the United Bulawayo Hospitals Grounds as well as the Bulawayo CBD Clinic. In Gweru, they are located at the Gweru Showgrounds. In Masvingo, they are located at Corner Hayles Street/Emslie Close. Lastly , for those in Mutare, you can find them at 27 George Silundika Street.
#SafeBloodForAll#BloodConnectsUsAll#GiveBloodGiveNowGiveOften#ThankYouForSavingMyLife
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