Africa-Press – Zimbabwe. A leading church affiliated voluntary group, Shincheonji Voluntary Organisation, involved in mobilising blood donations says there is a need for new strategies to raise awareness on the importance of donating blood.
Shincheonji made the call during a blood donation drive done in collaboration with the National Blood Services Zimbabwe (NBSZ) in Harare central business district recently.
Out of the targeted 40 units, they managed to get 16 units, highlighting the need for awareness to mobilise more blood donors.
“We’ve been serving communities through various voluntary programs for two decades, and blood donation is one of the most impactful.
“While we aimed for 40 units today, the 16 we received will still save lives.
“We want to adopt new strategies to raise awareness and motivate more people to donate regularly,” said Neil Maretekwa, team leader for Shincheonji.
“Donating blood is not just a medical act, it’s an act of love and humanity,” he said.
Maretekwa said there is need to consider incentives like free blood for donors who donate at least three times and extending the incentive to family members when the donor exceeds 10 times.
Blood donors who spoke to NewsDay cited the crisis that some members of their families experienced as the primary motivation for donating blood.
Vusisizwe Mguni, a seven-time blood donor said his brother’s death four years ago inspired him to become a regular donor.
Mguni’s brother died at Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals due to blood shortages.
“I came because I know how critical blood is, especially during emergencies,” he said. “This is my seventh time donating, and I feel proud knowing I can help someone in need.”
Another donor, Sesuleli Tanaka Mlambo, hailed the partnership between the church-based group and NBSZ saying it will go a long way in improving the country’s blood bank.
“The work being done is commendable,” Mlambo said. “And if more groups stepped up like this, our national blood shortages would reduce.”
NBSZ nurses, who were facilitating the programme commended the initiative and called for continued collaboration with civic and religious organisations to help meet the country’s growing demand for blood.
Shincheonji pledged to return with more donation drives in the coming months, backed by enhanced outreach efforts aimed at improving public engagement and donor education.
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