The Sunday Mail
Ephraim Mubayi
NBSZ Communications Officer
National Blood Service Zimbabwe (NBSZ) in partnership with Joina City Harare, launched the 2015 festive season campaign on Thursday 26 November 2015 at a function held at the NBSZ Harare Branch. The campaign is running under the theme “Blood is Life, Ropa Upenyu, Igazi Yimpilo”.
As NBSZ, we believe that life is in the blood.
Other partners to the campaign include Helen Cakes, Zi-FM, Junior Chamber International (JCI), Autoworld Zimbabwe and Big Sky. The Launch commenced with a blood drive where 31 units of blood were collected.
The partnership of the campaign is long term with the vision for the campaign to become an annual event in Zimbabwe, growing bigger and better each year. The target is to collect 5570 units of blood during the festive season.
At the same event, NBSZ launched a mobile application (mobile app) for blood donors that will be accessed by all smart phone users.
NBSZ Mobile App. was developed through a donation by Rubiem Solutions, an ICT support and implementation partner. The value of the donation is to the tune of $9000. Core focus of the mobile app is centered on blood donors who are key stakeholders to NBSZ.
The mobile app will also be used as an information centre to give information on blood donations, activities and where to donate blood.
Through this application, NBSZ aims to deliver a turn key business solution leveraging ICT, to reduce costs, improve business efficiency, and to increase revenue for the blood bank. Through their CSR, Rubiem are in the process of rebranding the NBSZ website which is valued at $7000.
The festive season campaign will be run through the NBSZ branch static clinics in Harare, Bulawayo, Gweru, Masvingo and Mutare. These clinics will be open for all walk-in donors to donate blood at a time convenient to them.
The launch marks the start of an awareness campaign on the importance of donating blood and encouraging more Zimbabweans to participate in the drive to save lives. Through this initiative, the campaign also aims to educate road users to drive responsibly as road carnage causes loss of blood. During the festive season especially, there is need for people to donate blood so that it is available when it is needed.
During a JCI blood drive campaign held on Saturday 28 November, 10 units of blood were collected from The Junior Chamber International (JCI). Big Sky and Autoworld Zimbabwe hosted sponsored blood drives on 16 and 19 December, 2015 respectively. Other various activities are lined up for the campaign and through Zi-FM, the media partner, information will be disseminated to keep the public well informed about the campaign.
Running parallel to the Festive season campaign is the Pledge 25 Club Zimbabwe ‘Youth Donor Month’ which commenced on Friday 4 December with blood drives in Harare, Bulawayo, Gweru, Mutare and Masvingo. A total of 2,371 units were collected. The Youth Donors Month runs till 15 January 2016 under the theme ‘Donate blood save a life, live a legacy’.
The Youth Donors Month is a national event held through NBSZ regional centres targeting youths who are between the age of 16 and 30. The Pledge 25 Club is targeting to collect 4 010 units of blood through the Youth Donor Month campaign.
For your questions and answers, please write or contact; Esther Massundah; Public Affairs Manager on 251851, 251854 / 251855-6, 0772162279, 0772162280, 0772162281, 0772162282, 0772162283, 0772162284 or email [email protected] mailto:[email protected] or like us on Facebook:- NBSZ Blood bank or follow us on Twitter: – @NBSZ blood bank
