Chinhoyi, Zimbabwe: 14 June 2014 - Zimbabweans were called upon to provide safe blood to save mothers as Zimbabwe joined the rest of the world to commemorate World Blood Donor Day at a high level event in Chinhoyi which was supported by the First Lady of the Republic of Zimbabwe, Amai Grace Mugabe and representatives from the different levels of the Government of Zimbabwe.

The theme for this year’s commemoration is “safe blood to save mothers” and it  focuses on raising people’s awareness about the critical need for safe blood and blood products to be available for women who suffer from severe bleeding during delivery or immediately after giving birth. Severe bleeding during delivery and after childbirth is a major cause of death, morbidity and long-term disability. It is the commonest cause of maternal deaths and contributes to an average of 34% of maternal deaths in Africa. Blood transfusion has therefore an important role in the provision of maternal health services.

In Zimbabwe, the 2012 Population Census National Report indicated that 525 women die from pregnancy-related complications per every 100,000 live births. Although the figure is lower than previous estimates of as high as 960 per 100,000 live births, it still remains unacceptably high as it is  well above the regional average for sub-Saharan Africa of  480 per 100,000 live births. High maternal deaths remain one of the key health challenges to the attainment by Zimbabwe, of health related Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) by 2015. 

In her statement, the First Lady, Amai Grace Mugabe appealed to more people, especially men to join the pool of voluntary non-remunerated donors to ensure there is sufficient blood to save mothers in need. She also urged the Ministry of Health and Child Care to look into alternative ways of funding the National Blood Services Zimbabwe (NBSZ) so that blood and blood products become affordable. “We want a situation where blood is affordable and every mother and child who needs it can afford it,” said Amai Mugabe. She also congratulated NBSZ for 25 years of excellent service in blood, and presented awards to milestone blood donors some of whom have donated 200 units, and to schools who have donated the highest number of units both in the province and nationally.

All speakers at the event appealed for more voluntary blood donors to join the pool of donors and appreciated the pool of donors who sustain Zimbabwe’s blood bank. Dr David Okello, WR Zimbabwe said “Voluntary, non-remunerated blood donation is the cornerstone of a safe and adequate national blood supply that meets the transfusion requirements of all patients; and this calls for new generations of motivated, voluntary, unpaid blood donors from low-risk populations to form a resource that provides the safest blood.” He also said WHO will continue to support all appropriate initiatives aimed at ensuring that safe blood and blood products are available to save women who risk death to give life.