THE National Blood Transfusion Service (NBTS) is set to offer pregnant women blood for free and make it cheaper for poorer members of the community, a government minister has said.
PHYLLIS MBANJE
This comes after increased maternal deaths due to blood loss during childbirth.
Excessive loss of blood during and after delivery (haemorrhage) is among the leading causes of maternal deaths which are at 525 per 100 000 live births.
Health and Child Care minister David Parirenyatwa implored the NBTS to offer pregnant women “free blood”.
Speaking during the campaign launch of the Africa Society for Blood Transfusion Congress (AfSBT) and World Blood Donor Day yesterday, Parirenyatwa said poorer members of the society and pregnant women were not accessing blood as it was too expensive.
“We need more partners to come in and pay for this service on behalf of our pregnant women and poor members of the society who are dying needlessly because they cannot afford blood,” he said.
The Health Transition Fund (HTF) recently came to the rescue of expecting mothers by releasing blood coupons which are redeemable at health institutions.
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Patients who need blood transfusion require between $135 and $200 for a pint of blood depending on the hospital where they seek services. A Parliamentary Health Committee recently expressed concern at the high cost of blood in the hospitals.
Nearly half a million pregnancies are expected yearly in Zimbabwe and in a minority there is excessive blood loss, requiring a transfusion of an average of three pints.
Timely blood transfusion is one way of preventing maternal deaths. This year’s World Blood Donor day, which will be held on June 14, is dedicated to mothers. It will run under the theme Safe Blood for Saving Mothers.
The event will be held in Chinhoyi and First Lady Grace Mugabe will be the guest of honour.
Meanwhile, the AfSBT Congress will be held in Victoria Falls from July 30 to August 2 and Vice-President Joice Mujuru is expected to officially open the event.
The congress will be attended by doctors, medical specialists and scientist from all over the world.
Participants will exchange information in the field of blood transfusion, safety in donor screening and advocating for safe blood programmes in Africa.
“As a ministry, we will also be extending an invitation to fellow ministers within the Sadc region to attend the congress,” Parirenyatwa said.
