MUTARE– The country sole blood services company says current closure of schools due to the Coronavirus imposed lockdown has pushed them directly into communities to collect the precious liquid.
Officials at National Blood Services Zimbabwe (NBSZ), Mutare branch told journalists during a Media Tour that despite this interruption of collection routines, they have still managed to ensure a positive balance of 5 days’ supply in their blood bank.
Two local NBSZ collection teams visit on average 130 school panels per month, across seven districts in the province, a feat now impossible due to the lockdown officials revealed at the tour facilitated by the Zimbabwe Union of Journalist (ZUJ) Manicaland chapter.
Nick Muparutsa, NBSZ public relations officer, said their sustenance was owing to innovation in donor recruitment and mobilisation, including setting up tents in communities.
Muparutsa said NBSZ has also recorded reduced blood exports to Harare, at a time when aggregate demand for blood has risen- as government is now providing a subsidy through the Health Fund.
He said despite a rising demand for ‘free’ government subsidized blood and the impact of Covid 19 which has also negatively impacted on their collection routines, the National Blood Service is able to sustain.
“Covid has affected us because we are not able to collect blood from schools since they are closed but we have actually maneuvered to go where the students are right now.
“Yes we could have been affected by Covid because we used to go to collection centres in schools but now we are going to the community directly.
“While we have been affected in terms of logistics we are still able to manage our output. Our reportage in terms of our blood bank status we report in terms of 5 days’ supply and we are in a position to supply hospitals.
“We are still managing to ship out to referral hospitals both public and private, we are holding firm despite the disturbances,” said Muparutsa.
Lovemore Chamunorwa, the NBSZ local laboratory technician, said the local supply of blood has declined and reduced their average shipping totals to Harare by around twenty five percent since the April.
He said the aggregate supply of blood to both public and private health centres in the province has nominally declined, due to a lowered demand.
“Since April we cannot longer send 400 units to Harare, it’s been difficult because of the restrictions, we are now incapable of sending as much units to Harare but our supply here in Manicaland we are still fine.
“Before the COVID 19 came we were shipping per month around 300 units in Manicaland but due to Covid 19 the demand has declined because most hospital are maybe now focusing on other issues or concerns.
“Our demand in the province has reduced to around 200 units per month that’s our average distribution, for private its 60 units per month. We are still able to meet the average demand and maintain a 5 day supply,” he said.
NBSZ also appealed to the general public, aged between 16-65 years, to come forward and make blood donations, as government the Health Fund subsidy for public hospitals has increased aggregate demand.
