MIDWEEK REPORTER
MASVINGO-National Blood Service Zimbabwe Masvingo branch has embarked on a massive blood collection drive to boost stocks for the festive season targeting 1 200 units.
The blood collection drive coincides with the Youth Donor Month (YDM) where the Pledge 25 Club members are donating the precious liquid throughout the centre’s geographical boundaries in partnership with a youth organisation called We Generation Africa which helping in encouraging the public to give blood.
The campaign kicked off at Mpandawana town in Gutu where 56 units were collected followed by Mutendereke High School where 90 units were collected against a target of 100.
Masvingo branch donor coordinator, Michael Chakoma said they are satisfied with the turn out and the target will be met or surpassed by the 11th of January 2025 when the festive season ends.
“Considering that most of the places being visited are rural areas we are very happy with the turn out and on Friday and Saturday (6 and 7 December) during the Pledge 25 Club mixed gala we are targeting to collect 300 units from the youth,” said Chakoma.
He said at Chirichoga High School at Nemamwa Growth Point they collected 48 units on Tuesday against a target of 50 and on Wednesday at Gwindingwi High School, Nyika Growth Point in Bikita they collected 118 units against a target of 120.
On Monday the team will be heading to Mashava and on December 10 they will be at Hippo Valley Section 27 Clinic.
On December 12 they will be at Chivaraidze Hall and on December 14 they will be at Chishamiso Hall both in Chiredzi.
At Jerera growth Point the team will be bleeding donors on December 16 and finally on the 18th they will be at Triangle before the annual shutdown on the 20th.
On January 7, 2025 the team will resume the programme at Chivi Growth Point, then head to St Theresa at Hama in Chirumanzu before going to Chitsanga Hall in Chiredzi on the 11th and all these collections are meant to boost stocks which would have been depleted during the festive holidays, said Chakoma.
“The popular Redan blood donation promotion will be held in January 2025 on a date to be advised, this is when donors will receive fuel coupons from the fuel supplier after giving blood,” added Chakoma.
We Generation Africa is a fairly new youth organisation which has pledged to work with NBSZ in their blood drive with the organisation’s president Lesly Magara also accompanying the Masvingo centre team to most of their visits.
“We have decided to partner NBSZ in blood donation drive as a youth organisation. The youth donate 70% of the blood in the country and it is against this background that we decided to spearhead the youth donor month by encouraging the youth to come and give blood in their numbers.
“As the Masvingo Province president of We Generation Africa I am leading from the front by taking part in the festive season blood donation drive by the NBSZ and I am happy that the initiative is bearing positive results,” said Magara.
“We wish our donors and the general public a Merry Christmas and a Prosperous New Year, please do not drink and drive we want you to continue giving the gift of life, so take it easy on the roads,” said Chakoma.
