MUHIMBILI National Hospital (MNH) has appealed to religious, government and foreign leaders in the country to motivate voluntary blood donation in their areas of work in order to help hospitals in the country acquire enough units of blood badly needed to save lives.
Acting Executive Director of MNH, Makwaia Makani, made the call in Dar es Salaam shortly after he received the Chinese Ambassador to Tanzania, Dr Lu Youqing, who visited the hospital to donate blood.
Mr Makani said the hospital requires sufficient blood units to suit the requirements that ranges from women and children, people involved in accidents and those involved in surgery, among other services.
He also said the hospital faces various challenges including lack of enough blood donation devices such as beds, blood product storage and outreach blood transportation devices, among others.
He highly commended Dr Youqing for being an exemplary in voluntary blood donation, calling for more overseas, government and religious leaders to emulate the example.
The Head of Central Pathology Laboratory (CLP) at the Hospital (MNH), Dr Alex Magesa said the hospital faces 25 per cent shortage of the blood with its daily requirements ranging from 100 to 130 blood units per day.
“The requirements ranges from 100-130 blood units per day but we only acquire 60-100 per day,” he said reiterating the need for voluntarily blood donation from public and private institutions including individuals to enable the hospital acquire enough blood.
He said that students in secondary schools are the majority blood donors, expressing the need for others especially in public and private sectors and individuals to motive voluntary blood donations to save lives.
On the other hand, Dr Youqing said he voluntarily donated the blood to MHN in order to help in saving lives of many people including surgery patients, women and children.
He promised more support towards ensuring enough blood in the country as he assured that his government will continue to support the health sector in the country to ensure quality services.
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