The National Blood Service of Zimbabwe (NBSZ) has launched the 2016 festive season campaign, which seeks to guarantee that there is enough blood for distribution in hospitals.
BY Phyllis MBANJE/MTHANDAZO NYONI
The campaign, which will run until January 31, was also designed to raise awareness and educate the public of the importance of donating blood and how it saves life.
The campaign is targeting to collect 6 690 blood units.
The blood donation will be done through the NBSZ static clinics for walk-in donors and the pledge 25 club for the youth campaigns.
Running under the theme Blood Connects Us All the campaign, focuses on thanking blood donors and highlighting the dimension of sharing and connection between blood donors and patients. Stories of people whose lives have been saved through blood donation will be shared and will motivate regular donors.
NBSZ public affairs manager, Esther Massundah said the organisation took its brand to the community through an awareness drive at the World Aids Day commemorations held on Wednesday.
“There will be public engagement on radio through the different programmes. NBSZ will provide regular updates on the different blood drives that will be held throughout the country,” she said.
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The pledge 25 blood drive will commence on December 7 in Murambinda, Dema and Mutoko. The pledge 25 is a youth club that has members, who pledge to donate blood 25 times before they reach the age of 30.
Another highlight of the programme is the Alpha Media Holdings social media hashtag campaign, that will run from December through to January 2017.
This year’s national target is 65 000 units up by 2 000 from last year’s target.
Last year, however, 59 836 units were collected, leaving a 5% deficit.
Speaking at the Bulawayo launch, NBSZ Matabeleland region public relations officer, Sifundo Ngwenya said, since schools will soon close for the holidays, they were now targeting collecting blood from adults.
The region is targeting to collect up to 1 000 units of blood for use during the festive season. Ngwenya said there was need for a lot of blood, particularly blood group O, which can be used universally to patients of other groups.
He urged motorists to exercise extreme caution during the coming festive season to avoid unnecessary loss of lives.
