The Zambia National Blood Transfusion Service (ZNBTS) says it faces challenges to provide blood transfusion to patients in need.

The unfortunate thing is that the majority of Zambians, especially in Lusaka, residents are not willing to donate blood voluntarily.

As part of its mitigation and collaborative effort, the Bank has appealed to the media to actively sensitize and engage the public in blood donation.

Speaking during a media engagement meeting, ZNBTS Donor Service Manager Dia Kumwenda urged the general public to voluntarily donate blood adding that this will improve the stocks of blood in the country.

ZANIS reports that Ms. Kumwenda added that the institution relays on pupils who are the majority blood donors adding that it is not enough to spread it across the country 

“We go as far as Eastern and Southern provinces to get blood donations from the communities just to meet the demand,” she said 

“Eighty percent (80%) of the blood collected is spread across the country we have accident victims, pregnant women who bleed during and after giving birth, cancer patients among others, this blood is not enough”, Ms. Kumwenda said

She further noted that most blood donors tend to donate blood when the have a sick relative who is in need of blood.

“We would like to discourage family blood donation because sometimes the blood groups are not compatible” she said.

She further appealed to Lusaka residents in particular to take the lead in donating blood voluntarily as it will help many Zambians in need.

She added that voluntary blood donation will help patients with complications and in need of blood in various hospitals.