Crisis as National Blood Service is Hit by Blood Shortage Ahead Of Christmas
16 December 2015
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By Tinoonga Mawere, Masvingo|The National Blood Service Zimbabwe has been hit by a critical blood shortage as the festive season approaches.
Officials in the organisation said early this week they are in panic attempts to boost the blood bank to avert disaster during the festive season.
At festive seasons the demand for blood supplies usually increases due to a high number of accidents and the organisation is battling to boost the blood banks as the festive season approaches.
Officials in the organisation said poor storage facilities as a result of erratic electricity among other factors contributed to the critical shortage of blood across the organisation’s centres in the country .
“We call upon youths and members of the public to come and donate blood in order to boost the supply for the festive season. Currently there is great need for the ‘O’ blood group. We are therefore appealing for donations. We are trying to boost the blood supply for the festive season,” said an official.
Hundreds of people have lost their lives due to excessive bleeding after being involved in accidents.
It has also emerged prolonged power cuts have grossly affected the blood storage facilities forcing the National Blood Service to reduce the volumes of blood storage.
The situation at the organisation is a telling reminder of the state of the country’s parastatals that have been grounded as service standards deteriorate.
The National Blood Service of Zimbabwe has since embarked on desperate efforts to collect blood in and around Masvingo but the programme has proved futile raising fears there could be fatalitilies due to excessive bleeding at the festive season.