Former Tanzania’s President issues emergency call for blood donations

RETIRED President Ali Hassan Mwinyi has called upon Tanzanians to voluntarily donate blood in order to save lives as the demand keeps on rising every day.

The need for safe blood in hospitals across the country is high thus it requires every eligible person to voluntarily donate…people are no longer donating blood while the demand goes up daily,” said Mwinyi when speaking during a blood donation exercise at Mapinduzi square garden over the weekend.

According to him, the most people in need of blood are children, expectant mothers and road accident victims. He said such people require additional blood to make them survive.

“It is important that we donate blood to save the lives of expectant mothers and hundred patients at our hospitals…they also deserve a good health and the right to live,” Mwinyi noted.

For his part, Mjini Magharibi Regional Commissioner, Ayoub Mohammed Mahmoud said that blood bank expects to collect 700 bottles to be able to meet the current demand.

Mahmoud said that his region is among the ones with highest demand for blood due to its population and the number of hospitals. He said that most of the hospitals in Mjini Magharibi region provide services to people from all over Zanzibar.

Some interviewed residents commended the move saying such exercises should be conducted frequently, as it will help motivate others to contribute.

Ashura Uledi Mohamed said that education is required to inform people on the importance of donating blood and that it does not pose any health risk to the people.

The National Blood Transfusion Service in Zanzibar needs to collect 450,000 units every year to meet the annual demand, but it has been collecting only 40 per cent of the requirement.

The Guardian