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Boitumelo Makhurane, Chronicle Reporter
YOUNG people in the country have been commended for being at the forefront of activities and initiatives aimed at achieving safe blood supplies through voluntary and non-remunerated blood donations.

The World Blood donor day was marked on Monday under the theme, “Give blood and keep the world beating,’’ with a special focus on the youth and their role in ensuring sustainable blood supply globally, especially in developing countries in Africa.

This year’s World blood donor day was held in Ntabazinduna, Matabeleland North Province where the National Blood Services Zimbabwe (NBSZ) partnered with the Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services (ZPCS) to host the event.

World Blood Donor Day is meant to celebrate and thank individuals who donate blood and to encourage those who have not yet donated blood to start donating; highlight the need for committed and year-round blood donation and to maintain adequate supplies and achieve universal and timely access to safe blood transfusion.

It is also meant to mobilise support at national, regional and global levels among governments and development partners to invest in, strengthen and sustain national blood programmes.

The guest of honour of the event, ZPCS health services director Dr Evidence Gaka commended the young people saying youths form a large sector of the population in many societies and are full of idealism, enthusiasm and creativity.

“This year’s commemorations focus on empowering and capacitating the youth in many respects and disciplines which perfectly fits with this year’s commemorations focus on the youth,’’ he said

“We are thrilled as ZPCS to be in partnership with NBSZ in contributing towards the security, health and wellbeing of Zimbabwean citizens.

He applauded NBSZ for their hard work and efforts in running an efficient blood service programme that is emulated regionally and internationally.

Matabeleland North provincial medical director (PMD) Dr Munekai Padingani said the focus of this year’s celebrations is the role of young people in ensuring a safe blood supply.

“Maintaining an adequate blood supply depends on these young people giving blood, a behaviour that can be described as truly pro-social.

A nation without youth is doomed to perish. I take this opportunity to acknowledge the role being played by our youth in general and the world acclaimed Pledge 25 in particular, in so far as blood donation is concerned,’’ he said.

The pledge 25 is a grouping of youths who pledge to contribute 25 pints of blood monthly, post high school until the age of 30.

Dr Pandigani said that youth also commence community involvement by becoming HIV/Aids peer educators and participating in other health promotion activities. He encouraged NBSZ to maintain and strengthen youth-centred projects.

“I encourage NBSZ to maintain and strengthen youth-centred projects as this is a major prevention strategy when it comes to HIV/Aids as youths through continual donor education will live a low-risk lifestyle,’’ said Dr Pandigani.

NBSZ has cultivated a reliable population of blood donating youths known as the ‘‘Pledge 25’’.

The programme was conceived by NBSZ and has been adopted by more than 80 countries worldwide.

NBSZ Southern region officer Mr Ntuthuko Nyathi acknowledged corporates and organisations, who have been a pillar of support in the prevailing economic situations, which have enabled them to carry out their tasks. — @Boity104