By CHATULA KANGALI –
THE Copperbelt Province has a blood deficit of 10,000 units, the Zambia National Blood Transfusion Services (ZNBTS) with increased road traffic accidents, among other factors, being cited as one of the triggers for the spike in the demand for blood.
ZNBTS regional manager Masiku Phiri said his organisation needed at least 30,000 units of blood for it to be self-sufficient and working on boosting the reserves.
“The demand for blood in the province has increased due to the increase in road traffic accidents. There are also a lot of people, such as young children, pregnant women and accident victims that need blood,” he said.
• DANGOTE Cement Zambia Limited Chief Executive Officer Desmond Maharaj donates blood to the Zambia National Blood Transfusion Services (ZNBTS). Picture by CHATULA KANGALI
Dr Phiri said this during a blood donation session at the Dangote Cement Plant in Masaiti District during the week where he thanked the employees for helping to boost the national blood bank.
He said the gesture by employees at the cement manufacturing company would help the institution reach the target of 30,000 units.
Dangote Cement chief executive officer Desmond Maharaj said the blood donation was part of the corporate social responsibility of serving communities.
Mr Maharaj said management was sensitising workers on the importance of donating blood and they were willing to donate on a quarterly basis.
