From: barnhart@ddsw1.MCS.COM (Mr. Aaron Barnhart)
Subject: IPS:ZIMBABWE: VOLUNTEERS NEEDED TO STOCK UP BLOOD BANKS
Date: Thu, 19 Nov 1992 23:15:09 GMT
Organization: Evanston, Illinois, U.S.A.

Copyright Inter Press Service 1992, all rights reserved.  Permission to re-
print within 7 days of original date only with permission from 'newsdesk'.

Area: North America
Title: ZIMBABWE: VOLUNTEERS NEEDED TO STOCK UP BLOOD BANKS


an inter press service feature

by godfrey karoro

harare, nov 11 (ips) -- although unemployed, 30-year-old noel
mudhara is always ready to donate his blood for transfusion to
patients free of charge.

mudhara has since 1989 been a regular blood donor here and he
is proud of his feat.

''there is no need to be paid for donating blood as i do
not do anything to produce the blood'', he says. ''i will not
like to be compensated in any way''.

in order to attract donors, zimbabwe's national blood
transfusion services (nbts) and zimbabwe red cross society offer
them fresh juice, tea or some nutritional drinks as
refreshments.

other incentives include hats after a 10th donation,
promotional ties and silver plated spoons. certificates are
awarded after the 25th, 50th and 100th donations.

but awards and refreshments have not stimulated the interest
of mudhara's friends in blood donation.

''they argue that there is no need to give their blood and
risk contracting the acquired immune deficiency syndrome (aids)
for nothing'', he says.

zimbabwe's blood transfusion services usually look to
volunteers to build up blood banks before end-of-year holidays
when hospitals admit many casualties of road accidents.

according to nbts general manager denis connolly, people
should give blood to help fellow human beings and not for
pecuniary gains.

recent press reports here said some blood donors were
demanding payment for their service to cushion them from
prevailing harsh economic conditions.

''many donors are demanding payment for their blood because
they think we are making a profit'', a blood transfusion
services official was quoted as saying.

but connolly stresses that blood banks do not require
''anybody with a mercenary attitude. if we paid for blood, we
will not get the kind of donor we are looking for -- those who
give blood to save the life of another''. (more/ips)


zimbabwe: volunteers (2)

''most donors are very good citizens who have a sense of
responsibility and want to help their fellow human beings. we
would rather have a shortage than give a monetary incentive to
would-be donors'', he adds.

the assertion is in line with the international society of
blood transfusion code of ethics which stipulates that blood
donation should be voluntary and that no pressure of any kind
must be brought to bear upon the donor.

as a non-profit making organisation, nbts relies on fees paid
for blood, laboratory services and blood products.

it costs nbts about 35 u.s. dollars to produce a unit (450
millilitres) of blood. the organisation charges an economic fee
to cover its operations which include blood testing for human
immuno-deficiency virus (hiv), hepatitis b and venereal
diseases.

the nbts general manager says main shortages are experienced
in group 'o' blood which is important as it can be transfused in
either 'a' or 'b' blood group patients.

blood is usually in short supply during the festive period of
christmas when the main donors here -- school children and
factory workers -- are on holidays.

according to zimbabwe's minister of health, timothy stamps,
aids, which is caused by hiv, has scared away a substantial
number of potential blood donors in the country.

encouraging zimbabweans to donate blood voluntarilly, dr
stamps says: ''the number of people in this country who believe
that aids can be contracted through donating blood is
unbelievable''. (end/ips/gk/ro/ar/92)