SHANNISE DZOBO
MASVINGO-Blood donors countrywide were saluted on World Blood Donor Day national commemorations held at Victoria High School in Masvingo City.
WBDD is celebrated all over the world on June 14 of each year spearheaded by the World Health Organisation in honor of the givers of life who do it freely to save lives.
National Blood Service Zimbabwe (NBSZ) Masvingo Branch hosted this year’s national WBDD commemorations and 206,5 litres of the life saving liquid were collected from 413 pupils from a target of 500 who came from various high schools dotted around Masvingo City.
WHO representative Prof Jean-Marie Dangou was the guest of honor at the event and expressed deep appreciation of blood donors and those who received certificates for their efforts.
He also encouraged potential donors to give more blood to save lives saying “each and everyone can play a critical role ensuring HealthForAll by regularly giving the valuable gift of blood to create a safe and sustainable supply of blood and blood products that can always be available to needy patients,” and “I urge all of you, to support voluntary blood donations as a solidarity act for all.”
Micheal Chakoma the NBSZ Blood Bonor Coodinator told The Midweek Watch that on the commemorations day they managed to bleed 83% of their target and due to time and other logistyics they could not bleed all the students who turned up from Ndarama, Masvingo Day, Victoria High, Masvingo Christian, Mutendi High, Gokomere and Mucheke High schools.
“We had targeted 500 units and 436 blood donors presented themselves for blood donation on the day and 413 managed to donate and that is 83% of the target,” said Chakoma.
Chakoma also stated that there were 71 milestone blood donors achievers who received their certificates, 28 from Masvingo City and the remainder were from Chiredzi, Hippo Valley Triangle, Jerera, Nyika, Chivi, Chirumhanzu, Mupandawana.
Chakoma went on to say that they have since reverted back to their usual blood collection program for high schools after the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions were lifted.
This year’s World Blood Donor Day commemorations was running under the theme ‘Give Blood, Give Plasma, Share Life, Share Often’.
Guests included the Masvingo Provincial Medical Director Dr Amadeus Shamhu who represented the Ministry of Health and Child Care, NBSZ board chairman, Dr Rogers Matsikidze who was represented by Advocate Passmore Nyakureba, NBSZ CEO Lucy Marowa, Masvingo Provincial Education Director, Shylatte Mhike who was represented by her deputy, Micho Hove, representatives from Zimbabwe Republic Police(ZRP), Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services(ZPCS), National Aids Council(NAC) and other government officials were present.
