Donating blood its a good thing (By Tatenda Kangwende)

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Why Is Donating Blood a good thing?

(by Tatenda Kangwende)




Contact the author:

Physical mailing address: 132 Herbert Chitepo Street

Mutare

Zimbabwe.

Mobile phone: +263 77 44 12 864




Electronic mail address: [email protected]

Webpage: www.amazon.com/author/tatendakangwende

Dedication:

Manifold thanks and appreciation go to all the courageous, able, willing and selfless men, women and children who, on a daily basis, save precious lives with their priceless life’s blood.




mailto:[email protected]

http://www.amazon.com/author/tatendakangwende

Thanks and acknowledgments Many thanks to graphic designer and marketer Albert Lukudu Wani for the design of this publication’s cover. Owe you yet again Albert.

Contact details for doing business with Albert Wani:

Mobile Phone: +263 77 393 6489

Email: [email protected]

Source of image of Bible used in Book Cover: http://www.arjunmainali.com/apmainali/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/blood_donation_jcdv_live.jpg ;accessed October 31st 2013





http://www.arjunmainali.com/apmainali/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/blood_donation_jcdv_live.jpg

Preface

“Donating blood is your way of showing you care. It is very safe and easy to donate blood, all you need is a healthy

body and a caring heart. You never know who might need it –even you! So donate blood and make a difference; every drop counts.”(Source: National Blood Service of Zimbabwe

2012 Annual Report – Every Blood Donor is a Hero; page 40)

Why does this author assert that regularly donating blood is a good and noble habit? Well, for one [actually, many] undeniable fact[s], it certainly does do a whole world of great good. If one simply pauses to consider the truly amazing facts and figures that:

Annually some four and one half million individuals’ lives in the United States alone are saved courtesy of blood transfusions all made possible by munificently donated pints of blood.

And that approximately thirty two thousand pints of donated blood are used every single day in just the United States alone to save many a precious and priceless life.

Furthermore, that every three seconds, somebody, somewhere, needs blood. And that almost a tenth of all people who are and will be admitted into a hospital,

will, at some stage of their admission and subsequent treatment, need blood.

Then, truly, truly as a matter of rock solid fact, regularly donating blood is undeniably a most noble and munificent thing to do (Source: document titled 56 Facts about Blood and Blood Donation; courtesy of Blood Centers of the Pacific; www.bloodcenters.org/docs/blooodfacts.pdf ; accessed December 1st, 2013).

This short, easy to read and hopefully informative and pragmatic treatise, will explore other pertinent and poignant reasons as to why regularly donating blood is most always a great and noble habit.

Pleasant reading...




http://www.bloodcenters.org/docs/blooodfacts.pdf




Part 1 of 4:

Donating Blood – Why it is truly a good thing

“The greatest value of donating blood is [that one] become[s] a hero even if [they] did not aim to become one.’

‘…Donating blood is a humanitarian act. This good act is beyond compare…Once the needle is inserted…and blood starts to flow inside the bag, [one there and then begins to] save lives..”(Source: Michael S. Williams in an Amazon Kindle e-book titled Donating Blood: Showing Affection or Coercion? A Peek inside the Blood Industry; page 1; ellipses and brackets are those of this author.)

Introduction – A Life Saved Thanks (In part) to Donated Units of Safe Blood

Late January of Roman year 2007. In one the Southern Africa’s most highly rated and esteemed private clinics – namely that of the Avenues Clinic situated in the city of Harare, the nation of Zimbabwe’s capital- a young-adult gentleman is battling to preserve his life. What medical malady/complication and/or disease had caused this individual’s life to hang so precariously in the balance? That of a condition or disorder termed methemoglobinemia.

“What is that?” One may be musing and asking within themselves thoughtfully enough. A great question indeed; well, very basically, “Haemoglobin is the protein molecule in red blood cells that carries oxygen from the lungs to the body’s tissues and returns carbon dioxide from the tissues back to the lungs.”(Source: article Haemoglobin; http://www.medicinenet.com/hemoglobin/article.htm#what; accessed September 11th 2012) And, on the very opposite end of the spectrum, methemoglobin is “A form of haemoglobin that is incapable of carrying oxygen, sometimes found in the blood after certain poisonings, such as with aniline, nitrates, and other compounds.”(Source: article, Definition of Methemoglobin; http://www.medterms.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=4366; accessed September 13th 2012)

And so, the condition of methemoglobinemia from which this particular individual was suffering from is that disorder, “characterized by the presence of a higher than normal level of methemoglobin…in the blood.”(Source: Wikipedia entry Methemoglobinemia; accessed September 11th 2012; ellipses are those of this author) In short, this condition robs its sufferer’s blood of its oxygen carrying capacity, resulting in hypoxia (a condition whereby




http://www.medicinenet.com/hemoglobin/article.htm

http://www.medterms.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=4366

the body or any one part of it is deprived of oxygen) and, if unabated or reversed, imminent and inevitable death occurs.

So who exactly/specifically was that particular individual whose life hung so delicately in the balance? Well, whether one believes it or not, that individual was none other than this particular author.

That scary episode of having the undertaker of death knock on this individual’s door happened now over a full half dozen years ago, but the memories are still strikingly fresh.

How then, was this individual’s life saved from the clutches of the undertaker called death, after having suffered this condition due to food poisoning? One of the most significant factors was through a successful transfusion of nearly six units of blood (some two to three litres) which helped replenish the almost all but depleted red blood cell complement, thanks to the onslaught of the methemoglobin.

The result of this successful transfusion was a most impressively brisk recovery. Energy levels soon proceeded to make an upward turn and mend as a clear trail to recovery was blazed, such that, today, -save for the vivid memories of the ordeal reposed in the minds of this author as well as close friends and family (and of-course, the exceptionally skilled, dedicated and compassionate complement of staff who helped him successfully recover)- no one would suspect that this individual once suffered a medical ordeal which nearly robbed him of breath and life.

“Had it not been…”

A favourite chapter of this individual is that of Psalm 124. In this particular Psalm, a Hebraic psalmist pays most deep, sincere, grateful and reflective homage to the Creator as he tries to conceive and contemplate in his mind’s most vivid eyes, a completely alternate and most unfathomable and unfavourable scenario and circumstance which both himself and the rest of the ancient Israelite nation would likely have had to endure, had the Deity not mercifully – time and again- intervened on their behalf and in their favour. Recorded this psalmist under inspiration from the Creator:

“If it had not been the LORD who was on our side,” ‘Let Israel now say—‘

“If it had not been the LORD who was on our side,” ‘When men rose up against us,’

‘Then they would have swallowed us alive,’ ‘When their wrath was kindled against us;’

‘Then the waters would have overwhelmed us,’ ‘The stream would have gone over our soul;’

‘Then the swollen waters’ ‘Would have gone over our soul.”

‘Blessed be the LORD,’ ‘Who has not given us as prey to their teeth.’

‘Our soul has escaped as a bird from the snare of the fowlers;’




‘The snare is broken, and we have escaped.’ ‘ Our help is in the name of the LORD,’

‘Who made heaven and earth.’(New King James Version)

Taking cue and license then, from this psalmist’s most imaginative and grateful homage rendered to the Creator, this author also shudders and is almost petrified in his tracks when he pauses and ponders for mere moments what would have become of him had not the Creator so orchestrated events such that some of the most qualified, competent and sincerely compassionate doctors , nurses and other support staff in the land (and arguably in the entire Southern African region as well) taken care of him; had not hdad safe and sufficient units of blood been on hand, and also, had not family, friends and other colleagues chipped in to cover the hefty medical bill after a total stay in the clinic’s intensive care and high dependency units of slightly more than a fortnight. The long and short of it all, is that, had the former requirements not been orchestrated and taken care of, this individual would not have lived to pen and type the very thoughts and words he is most privileged to share with this receptive audience. Concerning the latter (that is, if friends, family and other benevolent colleagues had not helped cover the resultant medical bill and charges), undoubtedly this individual’s standard of living would have been drastically lowered for an unspecified prolonged period whilst the bill would be in the process of being serviced.

And so it is, that, perhaps much like that most reflective and grateful Hebrew psalmist who penned Psalm 124, this author found himself musing along the grain of the thought “had it not been”. In the specific case he experienced, “had it not been”, for the orchestration and intervention of the Creator through key events and people, he shudders to think of what would have become of himself. Such musings almost never fail time and again to leave him overawed with a sense of gratitude toward both the Creator, as well as the people utilized in facilitating the necessary lifesaving intervention.

Donating Blood is a good thing – Seven reasons why

One very clear and significant factor which contributed toward saving this individual from death’s clutches was that of the successful transfusion of some half a dozen units of blood. It was those transfused units which helped replenish the all but destroyed and indispensable oxygen transporting haemoglobin molecules. It was at that juncture that this individual saw the exigency and absolutely inestimable value and importance of donating blood; after-all, donated blood had played a key role in helping to save him from rapidly approaching death!

So it was, that within two years of being discharged from the Avenues Clinic in Harare, that this author became a regular and committed blood donor. Indeed, it is a fervent desire which he himself carries that, as many healthy, eligible individuals of the audience he is privileged to engage and interact with, seriously consider becoming regular blood donors if they have not thought about it or not done so. Of-course, he perfectly understands that to request/appeal to the audience gathered herewith to consider committing to the cause of donating blood regularly solely on the basis and ground of the experience he went through and lived to tell would understandably be possibly deemed as too emotional, subjective and syrupy. It is therefore hoped that the seven reasons to follow will be both compellingly cogent and objective enough to persuade one to seriously consider becoming a regular blood donor.




Reason #1: Donating Blood is a tangible action and reminder that one can matter - and has in fact mattered- in a positive manner:

A near universal longing is to simply matter; namely, to have the sure knowledge, fact, conviction and feeling of significance – to have made a positive impact in the lives of others and the world at large, and so have the assurance that one has been counted and in fact, counted toward something worthwhile.

Again, to matter – and to do so positively – is a near universal longing and transcendent purpose of human life. Twentieth century United Sates’ academic, humorist and author, Leo Rosten sagaciously noted that, “The purpose of life is not to be happy – but to matter, to be productive, to be useful, to have it make some difference that you have lived at all.” Truly, what a most pithily sagacious saying! And so it is that one is most jovial when they know that they matter and can make an impact, especially when they actually do so in a useful, positive and productive sense and manner.

It is the seemingly little things that make a GIANT DIFFERENCE

Arguably most encouraging of all (in terms of what it pertains and means to matter), actualizing – or at least making positive steps toward the bigger picture of actualizing – this central and core purpose of human life can be accomplished daily in simple yet amazingly profound ways. For instance, daily, it may begin to be accomplished and actualized in earnest through:

i. Better relating with others: In some stirring and most profound thoughts on what it actually means to have succeeded and been a success in life, nineteenth century United States’ poet and essayist, Ralph Waldo Emerson once remarked that:

“To laugh often and much,”

‘To win the respect of intelligent people’

‘and the affection of children;’

‘To earn the appreciation of honest critics’

‘And to endure the betrayal of false friends;’

‘To appreciate beauty;’

‘To find the best in others;’

‘To leave the world a bit better’

‘Whether by a healthy child, a garden patch,’

‘Or a redeemed social condition;’

‘To know that even one has breathed easier because you lived;’




‘This is to have success.”(Source: obtained from Milton Kamwendo’s It’s Time to Unleash Your Greatness; 2003 Wonak Investments Pvt. Ltd.; Harare, Zimbabwe)

Wow! Most fascinatingly profound were those points! And to imagine! Namely that, “To know that even one has breathed easier because [one] lived [and lived well it may be added]; this is to have success.”(ibid) Truly then, the attainment of success – or at least a very significant portion/facet of it- is not out of the reach of just about any one if they are simply intentionally purposeful about it. Indeed, as Mr. Emerson has excellently demonstrated in his piece, is that one sure-fire and profound manner in and through which one may live better, matter in a more positively meaningful manner, and so succeed, is to simply interface and relate more cordially, lovingly, and respectfully with others.

Opportunities to relate and interact with others abound both daily and are aplenty. Evidence of this is given and furnished [in part] courtesy of some truly eye-opening statistics from a well-received and widely aired National Geographic television documentary titled Human Footprint; which most poignantly and fascinatingly shed light on just how far and wide -and how deeply embedded-, a typical early twenty-first century United States’ citizen and inhabitant’s inter-personal relations will be over their [give or take] eighty year long lifetime and existence. What they noted and calculated was that, among other intriguing facts and figures, this typical template of a United States’ citizen would likely:

Speak some forty three hundred words a day, extrapolating to nearly an eighth of a billion words spoken over the course of their lives!

Have readily and comfortably at their disposal in the arsenal of their vocabulary some twenty-five thousand words, which is roughly [again, very much give and/or take] four percent of the total volume of vocabulary extant in the modern English language.

Become both somewhat familiar to – as well as acquainted with- nearly seventeen hundred people.

And, at nearly any one time, have no less than three hundred people in their social group.

(Source: article The Human Footprint; http://www.esato.com/archive/t.php/t-153897,1.html; accessed September 18th 2012)

Well! Again, some truly eye-opening – if not mind-boggling- statistics supplied there from a most reliable and near impeccable source!

The picture then – at least both to and in the mind of this individual- is that one can matter more positively and be well on the road to realizing a major facet of success by simply relating better with others! In other words, what this implies is that (among other things) by:

Simply being more mindful and purposefully intentional of both carrying and projecting oneself in a more positive, uplifting and inspiring manner;

Smiling more often; by being more courteous , considerate and patient (as opposed to being obnoxious, rude, cavalier and ill-tempered);




http://www.esato.com/archive/t.php/t-153897,1.html

Choosing to be more colourful and edifying in the manner in and through which one expresses him or herself (as opposed to incessantly using bland, cliché, harmful, off-color and vulgar terms and vocabulary). One may then be in a far better position of relating well with others and so be well on their way to achieving a significant aspect and facet of true success! One should thus continually aim and trend toward being more approachable and easy to relate well with.

ii. ) Performing Selfless Acts of Kindness on a fairly regular basis: Twentieth century theologian and author, D. Elton Trueblood, and John Bunyan (a seventeenth century English preacher and author of the well known classic Pilgrim’s Progress) – each respectively remarked that “A man has made at least a start on discovering the meaning of human life when he plants shade trees under which he knows full well he will never sit.” and, “You have not lived today until you have done something [good] for someone who cannot pay you back.”

Essentially, what these two distinguished, thoughtful and most articulate gentleman were pointing out through their poignant sayings was to show forth a practical pointer on how to fulfil what Mr. Rosten both pointed and laid out earlier on the purpose of life; that one manner in and through which to matter and succeed (in the most positive sense of these terms of-course) is to be selfless and purposefully helpful to others – especially in ways and areas that they may not be able to otherwise help themselves.

Enter then, blood donation. Donating blood is but one of a growing multiplicity of tangible, simple, yet profoundly positive steps one may take toward becoming a well rounded and meaningful success. When one donates blood, they are being useful, helpful and productive, as well as being of help to others who are otherwise unable to help themselves. In other words, they are utilizing a viable avenue in and through which to matter, and to do so positively. Indeed, according to the United States Blood Bank, a single donation of blood can potentially save as many as three lives when so called upon (Source: article Blood Facts; http://www.usblood.org/; accessed September 19, 2012)! Also, “Every year, nearly 5 million people in the United States receive life-saving blood transfusions.”(Source: article, Blood Transfusion and Donation; http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/bloodtransfusionanddonation.html; accessed September 12th 2012)

Truly then, one can matter and exert a most profoundly positive impact and effect upon the lives of others in some of the most seemingly simplest yet empowering and encouraging of ways; of which regularly donating blood is but one of them.

Reason #2: Donated Blood is one of the very few resources and gifts which can scale any divide and so be given without reproach:




http://www.usblood.org/

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/bloodtransfusionanddonation.html

It is both an undeniable and grossly redundant fact that one lives and inhabits a profusely polarized and divided world. Almost regardless of where one looks, whether along political, racial, digital, educational, religious, socio-economic, and other lines, human civilization is deeply and sorely divided.

Few resources and/or ideas possess both the privilege and power to successfully transcend and scale the tall, foreboding and robust walls of the above mentioned and other divisions. Though strikingly few, they are there. At present, these resources and/or ideas, among others, include the universal needs for fresh, unpolluted air; clean, uncontaminated water, decent shelter, access to education, adequate clothing and access to energy, and so forth.

Another resource which has the right and privilege of joining the aforementioned privileged few is that of blood. At the end of the day really, regardless of issues and facts pertaining to, say,one’s race and nationality, whether they possess minimal or vast monetary and material substance and reserves, their sex and gender, and even their religious creed and persuasion (or otherwise if agnostic or atheist), the bottom line is that all need blood.

According to the United States Blood Bank, in the United States alone, “More than 38,000 blood donations are needed every day.”(Source: Blood Facts ; http://www.usblood.org/; accessed September 19, 2012)! The individuals who need those donations likely come from all the varied spectra of today’s divided world, the spectra of race, politics, religion, affluence, etc. The common denominator though, is that they all need blood. Furthermore, blood recipients and/or donors may have deeply embedded, rooted, steeped and intransigent beliefs and ideas along the lines of race, religion, politics, etc; but a scenario whereby either on the giving and/or receiving end one either asks and/or says and declares for instance, “I am only going to give blood to fellow followers of the religion I adhere and/or members of the same race.” Or, “On no condition will I receive blood from an infidel, those of a lower income, etc..” is simply laughable at best, and just chimerically absurd at worst. In other words, in the benevolent gesture of donating blood, and in the possibly precarious life or death scenario of needing it, all the formidable and mighty walls of today’s troubled and divided world simply pale and crumble so as to become all but laughably irrelevant.

The point then? Simply that the gift of blood is one which may be given freely, cleanly, openly and without reproach, simply because it is above reproach, being able to successfully scale any and all erected walls of the various divides of today’s world. The need, also, is definitely there, and it is vast. As statistics for the United States’ alone note:

Every two seconds someone needs blood. And that, on average, one in every seven persons admitted into a US hospital needs

blood. (Source: article How Blood Saves Lives; http://www.americasblood.org/go.cfm?do=Page.View&pid=5; accessed September 19th 2012)

Truly then, blood is a universally needed gift, and one which may at least be given freely and without reproach.

Reason # 3: Incentives Galore!:

In case one may be feeling jaded and silently questioning within him or herself, “Bah! Is there not any signal or reception on frequency ‘W.I.I.F.M”?”(that is, ‘W.I.I.F.M’ stands for




http://www.usblood.org/

http://www.americasblood.org/go.cfm?do=Page.View&pid=5

“What’s in it for me?” a colorful term which this individual first saw and subsequently borrowed from Robert Kiyosaki’s celebrated work, Rich Dad Poor Dad) The great news is that it is there!

Largely depending on the nation one presently resides in, the incentives given to regular and committed blood donors may range and vary from thoughtfully endearing tokens of appreciation for one’s assistance and service, to some truly valuable ones (at least in the monetary sense of things). One may take for instance, the National Blood Service of Zimbabwe. Noted this organization of its current incentives regimen:

“At milestone donations, the donors are given some tokens of appreciation for their commitment. These tokens are of non monetary value but have a sentimental value to the donors. They serve to appreciate their commitment and also to motivate them.”(Source: article, Incentives; http://www.bloodbank.co.zw/index.php/donating-blood/incentives; accessed August 29, 2012)

The same webpage also featured a table showing both their current incentives regimen, as well as a proposed future regimen should additional funds be accessed. It is now faithfully reproduced below:

Number of Donations Current Incentive Proposed Incentive 1 - Pen/Pocket calendar with Blood

Groups. 2 Pen. Ruler. 3 (Blank thirty two

page/leaf exercise) Book. Ruler.

4 (Blank thirty two page/leaf exercise) Book.

Armband.


Hardcover 96 page/leaf exercise book. (It is commonly termed a Counter Book.)


Maths set.

7 (Blank thirty page/leaf exercise) Book.

Neck string.

10 Hat. Manicure set for ladies. Wallet for gents plus hat/cap (for both).

15 Coffee mug/hat. Coffee mug. 20 - Golf shirt. 25 Tie/Scarf. Tie for the

gents, scarf for the ladies. (To remain the same).

30 - Umbrella. 50 Shield. Wooden shield + Certificate. 75 Shield. Brass shield + Certificate. 100 Shield. Glass shield + Certificate. 150 Shield. Silver shield + Certificate. 175 Shield. Beer mug + Tray + Certificate. 200 Shield. Blazer + Certificate.

(Source: ibid; the brackets are those of this author so as to add more clarity. Thanks)




http://www.bloodbank.co.zw/index.php/donating-blood/incentives

As one may well see, both the current and proposed future incentives regimen of this organization is that of a more sentimental, token-of-appreciation/thank you for your service, type value. The actual incentives and gifts in and of themselves are of limited monetary value, but are definitely of priceless emotional and sentimental worth. This is all well, good, true and noble; and commendably so.

However, it is most fascinating to note that in more privileged and prosperous areas of the globe, the incentives can- and indeed are- more varied and carry far more monetary value and bulk. Noted one blogger from the United States’:

“The incentives for giving blood are endless. Of course the health benefits are important, but [one] can’t forget the free gift certificates, tickets, and IPads, [they] can receive just by taking 30 minutes out of [one] day. Yes, I said IPad! So far I’ve received two subway foot longs, $10.00 to a barbecue restaurant, $20.00 to Garden restaurants, extra credit for a class just for donating (Heck yeah!), and I just started. I’m also entering a video contest about donating blood to win an IPad. How cool is that!”(Source: article, Why Donate Blood? 8 Reasons Why You Should Give Blood; by Lauren Axelrod; http://blood-blood-donation.knoji.com/why-donate-blood-8-reasons-why-you-should-give-blood/; accessed August 29, 2012)

Truly, as she both ecstatically exclaimed and articulated about the incentives she has already received and is further lined up to receive, writing, “How cool is that!” This author – and likely the audience as well- would answer her by saying something to the effect that, “Yeah, it’s pretty cool dear lady friend.”

So indeed, a third valid reason to donate blood is that a veritable treasure trove of incentives is lined up for the regular and committed donor. Courtesy of these gifts and treasures, there is a rich and abundantly clear line/signal/reception on frequency W.I.I.F.M – namely, “What’s in it for me?”

Reason #4: Regularly donating blood may possibly help one more proactively gauge their health:

As the afore-quoted and cited blogger from the United States’ noted:

“Donating Blood Increases Your Own Awareness of Cholesterol Levels

One of the added benefits of donating blood is having access to cholesterol levels. Results are readily available to [one] online so [they] can gage what [they] need to change in [their] diet, or [one] may just want to maintain healthy levels.”(Source: ibid; brackets are those of this blogger ).

Thus, a fourth potential and viable reason to donate blood is that doing so on a regular basis can be possibly employed as another tool and offensive weapon in one’s arsenal of proactively assessing and gauging “the state of the union” in terms of one’s health as it were.

Reason #5: Donating Blood can even potentially enhance one’s own health!:

That is correct; noted the same blogger:

“From a health standpoint, I can’t think of a better way for people with high blood pressure, migraines, or high cholesterol to let go of some waste. I do it to help with my blood pressure and migraines, as unloading two pints of blood is the best way for me to relieve pressure in my brain and my body. Furthermore, donating blood changes the iron levels in [one’s] body, thus helping, and sometimes preventing, heart disease. This is especially important for women. Why? After




http://blood-blood-donation.knoji.com/why-donate-blood-8-reasons-why-you-should-give-blood/

women stop menstruating, they are no longer getting rid of iron. In actuality, a woman’s iron levels will increase after menopause. Giving blood is one of the safest and easiest ways to reduce levels of iron to healthy levels. Also, giving blood decreases the risk for heart attacks in men.”(Source: ibid; brackets are those of this author)

Thus, not only can one possibly proactively monitor the state of their own health (or at least a significant aspect of it), but they can also enhance their health because of it! Truly then, a win-win scenario in every sense of the term for both donor and recipient[s]! How marvelously wonderful indeed.

Reason #6: Donating Blood can also potentially spur and motivate one on to greater levels of personal excellence:

Late nineteenth century German poet and philosopher Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche once eloquently pointed out that, “He [or she] who has a strong enough why, can bear almost any how.”(emphases and brackets are those of this author) In other words, a compelling and sound reason or motivation for doing something – even existing and concerning one’s very own life and existence- can drive and spur one on and enable them to successfully press through just about any and all potential risks, adversities and/or tragic happenings.

In a similar vein to the above, a satisfactory and substantial motive or “reason why” for both doing and/or becoming something , can spur and imbue one with almost inexhaustible reserves of inner drive and near boundless passion and motility to attain that which they seek.

Donating blood is a potentially powerful arrow in the quiver of compelling reasons or “whys” one must seek to be the best of who and what they may possibly be. For instance, since donating blood is a powerfully tangible way and reminder of the fact that one can both be successful and matter in the most positive of ways, it can potentially spur one on to continue travelling down the oft-times lonely and uphill (but astoundingly rewarding) path of excellence. As an example, if one is faced with a potentially compromising, tempting, baleful and distasteful situation -say, for instance, being enticed/seduced to commit an act of adultery and/or fornication- and thus risk contracting an S.T.I (sexually transmitted infection), they could mobilize and motivate themselves to resist, possibly talking within and convincing themselves to flee from harm’s way possibly saying something to the effect that, “Wait a minute! Let me carefully consider what I am about to do! I matter! My future is worth living for. For starters, I know that this is true because just by donating safe and healthy blood, I can possibly save, enhance – and even completely transform!- other people’s lives. Let me not engage in lewd and reckless behaviour, and so throw away my precious life.”

In any event, donating blood can be a most powerful reminder and motivator that one matters and can live an excellent and productively prosperous life. Truly then, the power is in the Why.

Reason #7: ”Why?” and “Why Not?”:

One of the most widely known and loved pick-me-up type quotations is one uttered by the commercially successful late nineteenth and early twentieth century Irish playwright and 1925 Nobel literature laureate, George Bernard Shaw; he once pithily quipped, “You see things; and you say, ‘Why?’ But I dream things that never were; and I say, ‘Why not?” Truly truly, what more or else may be said, save that it is a most noteworthy and unforgettable saying?




Taking cue from the rich vein and intent of Mr. Shaw’s priceless and masterful saying, it is hoped that the half-dozen reasons for donating blood shared thus far have provoked the reader and wider audience to now ask the refreshing, positively- adjusted, mouth-watering and vista-opening and exploration-oriented question and affirmation of “ Yeah! Why not?”

And indeed, one may and well truly ask “why not?” Yea indeed, why not:

Donate blood and be a potential hero and positively affect the lives of others? Give a gift that can more than adequately powerfully scale the forebodingly imposing walls

of division erected in the world and society of humanity? Tune into frequency W.I.I.F.M and benefit from the rich and vast treasure trove of incentives

on offer? Employ another potential weapon in one’s arsenal of tools to help them proactively monitor

their own health and vitality? Potentially enhance one’s own health in the process of giving help and hope to others? Add another compelling reason to one’s own argument and reason of “why” so that they may

be better equipped to successfully face any “how” or monkey wrench which life may throw? Truly then, why not? And if one is still not convinced (which is fine of-course) and asks in a nonplus and sincere manner “Why?”, this individual would likely (and respectfully of-course) politely retort, “Yes indeed, well, the real thrust of the question “why” is why miss out?” And indeed so, “Why miss out?” Why miss out:

On golden and regular opportunities in and through to matter and positively impact the lives of others?

On an opportunity to successfully scale and render rather baseless and arbitrary (at least temporarily at that juncture when they both donate their blood, and also at the point of its subsequent use in saving and prolonging someone else’s life) the deep and marked divisions that permeate this world and its’ societies?

On a potential slew and veritable treasure trove of incentives up for grabs? On harnessing a possible additional tool in proactively monitoring and gauging one’s

health? On enhancing the priceless jewel and crown of one’s health? Fortifying one’s why argument so that they may be adequately equipped to live and

enjoy life, and surmount any challenges it may throw at one?

So yes, regardless of whether the questions, “Why?” and/or “Why not?” are asked; the now seven reasons shared in this treatise should hopefully be able to tackle both questions. Indeed also, there could be so, so many more rich and compelling reasons for donating blood. If the reader or any other member of the audience may know and have any other compelling reasons, please feel free to contact this author, and also share them on social networks and other forums. Everyone is here to learn and share. Thanks so much.

In closing, Martha Stewart’s famous “It’s a good thing” line/quip really does a splendid job of answering the why and why not questions. This is because if and/or when asked why this individual donates blood and is a regular blood donor, he will simply and affectionately respond, “Why, it’s a




good thing; a really, really good thing. Here are at least seven reasons why…” And if he were to meet and interact with an individual who is not a blood donor, and yet is capable and eligible to be one, he would curiosly ask, “ Really? Why not? Please consider being so; it’s great for at least seven or so reasons…”

So regardless of whether asked why or why not, donating blood is truly a great and good thing.

This author would like to thank the reader and wider audience for picking up and reading this treatise. He trusts that they will read it to its’ end, as well as soon visit the blood donation center/clinic nearest to them. Thanks.

Sincerely

Tatenda Kangwende




Part 2 of 4:

A Most fruitful and enlightening visit and interview at the Mutare Branch of the National Blood Service of Zimbabwe (NBSZ)

Arrival and first impressions

It was a most liltingly pleasant Monday morning – that of September 10th, Roman year 2012 C.E. to be exact- when this author made a scheduled visit to the Mutare Branch premises of the National Blood Service of Zimbabwe (NBSZ).

The set up and layout of the premises was well laid out and most inviting, with the organization even having taken great care and concern to reserve and designate donor parking. The garden and grounds are also well maintained and brimming with life.

Warm reception and brisk service

As impressive as the set-up of the complex is outside, so it is inside. When one enters the complex, to their left is an entrance to the clinic’s labs which are only accessible to the lab scientists and technicians, though one may enter in on a guided tour. To one’s right is the entrance to the main office complex featuring the reception area, counseling and staff tea rooms, as well as the donor bay area. The atmosphere is warm and inviting, with the staff being quick and polite to attend to clients. This individual was warmly greeted and attended to by a certain lady and nurse on duty at the reception area on that Monday morning, named a certain Mrs. Patience Ngoma.

Furthermore, if it so happeneth that one has to wait their turn in being assisted and/or otherwise attended to, there is no need to do so in frustration. This is because comfortable seating is available. Furthermore, if one forgot useful reading material to keep them company as they patiently wait their turn, there is a full complement of the latest issues of the most widely circulating state and private weekly papers, as well a varied range of magazines and journals. Interesting, humorous, and very informative posters are also carefully sprayed on the well laid-out pin-boards and walls of the reception area. What is more, if one is not the keen reading type, there is a small television set and digital satellite decoder furnished with a sizeable bouquet/compliment of channels to watch for one’s viewing pleasure as they wait to be served/assisted. Thus, there is plenty to keep one occupied as they patiently wait.

In any event though, it was not long before this individual was kindly escorted to the office of the customer relations officer – a certain gentleman by the name of Mr. Nick Muparutsa.

Cordial Greetings and a most enlightening interview:




Indeed, the young gentleman who both greeted and escorted this individual to the office of the customer relations office was a most affable gentleman named Collin Tichiwangana; a then junior year media studies major at Midlands State University situated in Zimbabwe’s third largest city of Gweru.

After having entered into the warm, inviting office of Mr. Muparutsa and having duly exchanged sincere social pleasantries with one another, it was down to the agenda of the scheduled appointment; that of interviewing him concerning the activities of the organization as well as exploring more on the topic of blood donation in general.

The interview was pleasant as well as enlightening, and it proceeded most smoothly it must be added. Topics and issues discussed during the course of the slightly more than half-hour long interview included and were not limited to: the costs and overheads associated with safely collecting, processing, storing and distributing donated blood and blood products, the publicity, outreach and mobilization activities of the organization, and so forth.

All in all, the interview – at least in so far as this author was concerned- proceeded on well and was most stimulating. The reader and audience are most at liberty to read the transcript which follows. Thanks.




Part 3 of 4:

Interview with Mr. Nick Muparutsa (the current Customer Relations Officer of the Mutare Branch of the National Blood

Service of Zimbabwe) (NB. Please note that extensive editing has been performed for ease of readability and clarity purposes. However, as much as was possible, the essence of what was said has been attempted to be faithfully transcribed. Thanks)

Date: Monday, September 10th 2012

Transcript of the Interview:

Interviewer (Tatenda Kangwende): Okay, good-day to you all dear audience, it is a pleasure to be with you, and... So, today it is a pleasure to be with a certain Mr. Nick Muparutsa; he is the customer relations officer for the Mutare branch of the National Blood Sevice of Zimbabwe. He has kindly offered this interviewer an interview concerning the NBSZ and the work that they do. We are going to gain a lot more insight into their work; and, hopefully, it will be positively inspiring and enlightening. So, without any further ado, this interview is underway.

So, a pleasure to meet you Mr. Muparutsa…

Interviewee (Mr.Muparutsa): It’s a pleasure.

Interviewer: So just to get the ball rolling Mr. Muparutsa…please just kindly inform us as to what is the National Blood Service of Zimbabwe? Namely, how old is it, its origins and its purpose?

Mr. Muparutsa: Basically, the National Blood Service was formed in 1987, roughly when the Harare and Bulawayo chapters were amalgamated. These were previously run independently by a consortium of doctors. This amalgamation was brought about by the need to harmonize the policies in the interests of both the donors and blood recipients. And also, the Salisbury (the modern city of Harare’s name before 1980) and District Blood Transfusion Services was established in 1958, as a not-for-profit company under the Companies Act.

The Bulawayo District Blood Transfusion Services was later established in 1960, in order to ensure conformity of practice, and to provide a cost effective national service. It was later agreed to form a single (national transfusion) service. The National Blood Transfusion Service was registered as a non-profit organization –CR44258- in May of Roman year 1989




C.E. This followed the amalgamation of the Bulawayo District Blood Transfusion Services and the Harare District Blood Transfusion Services as I highlighted earlier.

The (amalgamated) Service has a constitution that governs its operations, and this is embodied in its Memorandum and Articles of Association.

I think that all these facts inform some of the history of The National Blood Service of Zimbabwe.

Interviewer: Thanks Mr. Muparutsa for that very detailed response as to the origins of The National Blood Service….So moving on…what are the products and services offered to the clientele of the National Blood Service?

Mr.Muparutsa: Okay, the range of products and services offered by the National Blood Service. We are looking at whole blood,autologous donations, red-cell concentrates, red-cell concentrates solution. We also look at red cell concentrates white, red cell pediatric; we also deal with fresh-frozen products, which, in this area, we are normally looking at plasma. We also do platelets, and quite a number of other services we offer which I may not be able to recall off-hand.

Of-course, we also have donor sample testing; that is, when a donor would like to know their blood group; we can offer that service.

Interviewer: Thanks for that run-down of quite an extensive catalog of products there….so moving on,…the third question is this; What are the programs run by the National Blood Service? For instance, this interviewer has heard of a certain donor club called Pledge 25. So, maybe if you may please elaborate more on the programs run by the National Blood Service?

Mr. Muparutsa: Yes, we run quite a number of programs, specifically, the programs we run and look at, are mainly for the purpose of sustaining an amply stocked blood bank. That is, we involve ourselves in Blood-drives where we cover parts of the whole province (Note: which in his and the Mutare branch’s case, is the Zimbabwean province of Manicaland). We do blood drives in Murambinda which we call mixed galas, whereby men and women come and donate blood at specific dates. We also have such programs at the Men’s Center, where we conduct the men’s splash, as well as ladies’ galas- normally the men’s splash we have them three times a year, that is namely in March, June, and September. Then, in December, we hold/run the Youth Donor Month where the youths specifically come together to donate blood. The lady’s gala is normally held in April, and also in August. Then, in December they join the men to form the aforementioned Youth Donor Month.

The Pledge 25 –as you have rightly put it- emerged from an initiative of out of school donors who had made a pledge to donate at least twenty-five units of safe blood over the course of their lives. However, many of them have graduated from this program; and some are now aiming to donate fifty, seventy-five, or even a hundred donations.




But basically, it is a very good program whereby the youths are involved. Motivational speakers are lined up to teach them principles of safe and proper living so that they are not involved in anti-social devices.

Interviewer: Thanks very much Mr. Muparutsa….that is really quite a fascinating and enlightening list of programs there. At least [this] shows that the organization has adopted a proactive stance; in that, they are not just waiting for donors to come, but they are going out into the community and are engaging them.

Mr. Muparutsa: Actually, I forgot to mention that we have the Chipinge chapter, we also have Rusape, and also Chimanimani. We are also going out into these places with these programs apart from Murambinda and Mutare urban.

Interviewer: Ah, okay, thanks….Mr.Muparutsa, as a fourth question, who exactly is eligible and able to donate blood? Is there a certain demographic? Certain age limits? Just wondering as to who is eligible to donate blood if they so choose? And why is this so?

Mr. Muparutsa: Okay, for our donors…we are looking at healthy blood donors; that is one of the fundamental issues. Also, one should be at least sixteen years of age, and, weigh in at about at least fifty kilograms.

Yeah, basically…at at least sixteen years of age, that individual is in a position to make an independent decision.

And also, basically it is because the human body is the only manufacturer of blood. There is no industry in the world which manufactures blood; and, for us to have blood for those who are injured in industrial accidents, (exigencies for) surgical operations. We also have those who are anemic, and for us to have blood for these and other conditions, we need to have healthy blood donors. And it is important that our donors understand this: that the only prize you get is the understanding that you have saved a life.

So, basically, it is very important to note that…we can only get blood to help these people from blood donors; blood donors who are healthy.

Interviewer: Right, thanks for highlighting and elaborating on that question Mr. Muparutsa, thanks. So now, the next question is that it has been said that, if blood donation is free, -or rather, offered freely by the donors- some members of the public… are at a quandary as to why there is a monetary cost attached to blood when it is then needed in, say, a hospital or clinical setting? Why is this so, and what are the costs incurred in storing and delivering blood and other blood related products?

Mr. Muparutsa: Yes, that’s true. We cannot say that we are selling blood actually, - for blood transfusions- but, we put a levy. This is done to cover the costs which are involved in




the processing, distribution, and even the collection of blood. For example, we have got the staff which is involved in this exercise of collecting and processing of blood and blood products. So there are staff expenses.

We also look at the testing aspect, whereby blood is tested for HIV, Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, and Syphilis – all these testing kits cost a lot of money. To be specific, the cost of producing a safe unit of blood has gone up to about one-hundred and twenty nine dollars- United States’ only. But, I am not saying that this is the price charged for a unit of blood in hospitals. For government hospitals, it’s sixty-five dollars a unit. For mission hospitals, it’s fifty dollars a unit, and for the private hospitals – and I am looking at, for example in Manicaland here, -Murambi Gardens Clinic- it is about one hundred and five dollars per unit.

Basically, the organization is operating on a cost recovery basis; whereby, we are just operating. We cannot even say that we are breaking-even in marketing terms, because the organization is still finding it very, very difficult to produce blood, such that it is accessible to our patients in hospitals at lower charges than as it is at present.

Thus, we cannot say that we are selling blood, but, we are saying it is only a levy. And, basically – as I have highlighted earlier- this levy is only incurred/paid by those who are not regular blood donors. As I have highlighted earlier, our blood donors access blood and blood products for free, and we expect and/or also like to see that each family has –or should have- a blood donor. This would go a long way in alleviating these costs.

So actually, we are saying that blood is not being sold, but a levy is just being exacted. The cost of producing that unit of blood – as I have said earlier on- is very astronomical. The service is also finding it a bit difficult to sustain itself in terms of its own operations….Yeah, like I have said, we have electricity charges, fuel charges, staff charges – as I have highlighted earlier- indeed, there are a lot of overhead expenses which are not factored into the pricing of blood.

Interviewer: Thanks Mr. Muparutsa. So that answer really helped to highlight the costs incurred – both fixed and running – which have to somehow be accounted for in producing a unit of blood. But, perhaps just for the sake of the audience and just to clarify about the cost-recovery basis; if, as you have mentioned, a typical unit of blood costs roughly about a hundred and twenty-nine dollars to produce; and, at most, the service exacts a levy of a hundred and five dollars for the private hospitals, how is the gap (that twenty-four dollar gap) –as well as the gaps for the other institutions- how is that covered? How is that accounted and paid for?

Mr. Muparutsa: Yeah, that’s correct; of course, there are –and we have- some overseas donor partners who sometimes help us in the securing of blood bags and some of these other accessories which help the service to go on and run. Otherwise, were it not for some of our friends and donor partners overseas – and also as well not forgetting to mention the Ministry of Health, which sometimes provides some grants- it would be very difficult to viably continue running this service.




Interviewer: Right, thank you Mr. Muparutsa. And, the next question is that of what incentives are offered to blood donors –if any? And indeed, if that’s the case, then why are they offered? Why are incentives offered – just as a matter of interest?

Mr. Muparutsa: Yeah, basically we have got a wide ranging incentive regime, whereby for example, in schools, we normally give pens for starters. We also have exercise/counter books which have become very popular with high-school students.

Also, the Pledge 25 members, when they graduate, they are awarded a shield and a certificate upon reaching the twenty-fifth blood donation milestone. Shields and certificates are also awarded to those who reach a fiftieth or even seventy-fifth blood donation – as well as the hundredth one. Of-course, the organization is looking at offering more incentives.

These incentives then, are basically a motivational aspect/issue brought in, so that we continue to have blood donors. And also, these incentives help the donors feel attached to the organization. For example, we are looking into offering more incentives such as blazers similar to those currently offered to The Lions Club and so forth. It would be nice to have such incentives; indeed, our donors are crying out for more incentives. Of-course, at this present juncture- as I have highlighted earlier on- funding is a limiting factor for the organization. However, these incentives do go a long way in helping us to have more donors. Indeed, we find a number of donors coming back. For the Youth Donor Month, we also provide t-shirts. I think that you have seen a number of t-shirts been given away during the month of December. Also, our peer promoters in school – namely those students who help mobilize blood donors – are also identified by the t-shirts we give them. We sometimes also give rulers (twelve inch rules).

Indeed, quite a number of companies have also helped us. For example, we have The Lions Club, which recently gave us some exercise books so that we in turn, pass them on to our donors. These organizations are helping us to offer more incentives so that we have more donors for the organization.

I think that basically, in terms of donors, these incentives are quite effective, to say the least. This is because items like the pens for instance, are engraved with the words, “National Blood Service – Be a donor”. So, they also want to be seen having one (an engraved pen) and so they end up donating blood for the sake of such incentives; thus, they are doing well.

For the headmasters also, -who help us in mobilizing students in the areas we go,- at the beginning of each year we give them calendars. They are also asking if we may afford to source them some diaries, but, unfortunately, at this juncture we can’t, because of the constraints in our funding; it is limiting us. But we would have loved to give them diaries in addition to the calendars which we always give them. These are some of the incentives we currently provide.




Interviewer: Thanks very much Mr. Muparutsa. So again, maybe perhaps just for the sake of the audience, just to get you correctly, the incentives, really, they just help to really enmesh the organization into the donor’s memories, and also to strengthen the attachment and affiliation to the organization, so as to form a stronger partnership, is that correct?

Mr. Muparutsa: That’s correct, that’s correct, you are right.

Interviewer: Ah, thanks very much, thank you. Right, and then, the next question is that why are the youth a key demographic in terms of blood donation? What makes them such an essential demographic? If you may please just enlighten us on this a bit more. Thanks.

Mr. Muparutsa: Right, for example, when we look at our scenario in Zimbabwe, about seventy-five percent of our blood is sourced from high-school students. Then, the Pledge 25 contributes about an additional fourteen percent of the blood which is collected. So, basically, we can see that we have got a bias toward our youth.

We normally view our youth as a rather relatively safe area, behavior wise. Many of them have not yet involved themselves in risky behavior. However, we are by no means saying that it is a completely safe/foolproof area. But yes, as you have rightly said, normally our prime target is the youth. This is because in our operations, we go mainly into the schools during the term. And, normally –as I have said- the Pledge 25 comes into play when there is a dip in our blood bank, and so we shore up our blood banks by utilizing the donations from Pledge 25. These dips normally occur during the school holidays. But yes, our operations mainly target the youth in high-schools, universities and colleges, where we have about seventy-five percent of our blood requirements. At least, this is the area/demographic we have greatly targeted.

We are also, of-course, encouraging the adult blood donors and repeat donors. So, we are trying to re-energize and engage ourselves toward the adult blood donors, but currently, the youth are the leading demographic in terms of our blood requirements.

Interviewer: Right, then there is what is called the World Blood Donor Day – and a lot of publicity goes into that- and again, just for the sake of the interviewer and the wider audience at large, please may you just elaborate more on what the World Blood Donor Day is? Namely, what it is, and, the aims and objectives of that day?

Mr. Muparutsa: Thank you very much. World Blood Donor Day is held every year on June fourteenth, globally. The day is held on the birthday of Karl Landsteiner, in recognition of his work in the creation of the A.B.O blood group system, for which he won the Nobel Prize.

World Blood Donor Day is also day to thank and reinforce the self-esteem of those who donate blood, so that they continue to do so regularly; and also to inspire those who do not give blood –but who are healthy and able to do so- to start donating blood.




So, basically, it is a day on which we formally recognize our blood donors. On this day we say thank you to our blood donors; and we also encourage others to donate blood. Indeed, a number of people are healthy, but they don’t understand the process of donating blood, and World Blood Donor Day is a day which seeks to highlight these issues.

Interviewer: Ah, thanks very much. So, just to reinforce the understanding, it is a day to both look back in gratitude towards active blood donors, and then also to educate the public as well to the exigency of donating blood?

Mr. Muparutsa: That’s correct.

Interviewer: Ah, thank you very much. Then, the next question Mr. Muparutsa, maybe just for the sake of titillating the curiosity of both this interviewer – and possibly the audience listening perhaps - would you know of any active or former donors –who are still among the living- who have made as many as possibly twenty-five, fifty –even a hundred!- blood donations?

Mr. Muparutsa: Yeah, well basically, as a customer relations officer I have to know my customers –especially those who have reached such distinguished milestones.

So yes, we have, for example, a certain Mr. Makwinja; he has donated at least over twenty-five times. We also have a gentleman named Mr. Flint Gondo, who has since passed the twenty-fifth milestone as well. He is a product/alumnus of the Pledge 25 initiative. There is also a lady by the name of Caroline Chabuda as well, and she was the first lady to graduate from the Pledge 25program/initiative.

In fact, the gentleman whom you are interviewing – Mr. Muparutsa himself- has donated more than fifty times, and, just last week (the week spanning from September 2nd through 8th 2012) he donated his seventy-fourth unit of blood; so he is close to seventy-five donations.

We also have Mr. O.S. Pfupajena, who has successfully donated one hundred units so far.

So indeed, quite a number of youths and regular donors have passed the twenty-fifth, fiftieth, and even hundredth milestones. There are quite a number of them. In fact, we possess a register of those who have already made such achievements

Interviewer: Ah, wow, and thanks very much Mr. Muparutsa. It’s very comforting and enlightening –as well as encouraging- to know that you yourself are leading by example! Thank you so much! It’s most positive and reassuring; thank you, and keep up the good work.

Mr. Muparutsa: Thank you.




Interviewer: Okay, and then the next question Mr. Muparutsa is, of late, -if this interviewer is not mistaken- perhaps for at least more than a year, the National Blood Service has embarked on –and is indeed still going on – a very strong and massive publicity, awareness and promotional drive through all the available media. This is especially true through the state weekly paper of the Sunday Mail.

And of-course, these efforts are most commendable; and so the question which this interviewer now has is: Have these concerted and massive efforts yielded any positive results or elements? If so, what have they been in particular? For instance, more donors, et cetera, et cetera?

Mr. Muparutsa: Yeah, of-course, we are very grateful about this massive publicity, because it has resulted in what we may perhaps call –at least in marketing terms- “brand visibility”.

Yes, our organization is now being known by many people. And also, we have been seeing of late, our number/compliment of donors increasing by the day. In fact, each time the organization has been highlighted in newspapers we always find a response –quite tremendously so- from the public. Some simply want to know more about the organization, whilst some inquire as to how to become active blood donors.

There are and have been numerous Sunday Mail articles, and sometimes the Manica Post when we have our functions here (in the province of Manicaland), they try to be there. And, I remember also the state President (President Mugabe) – when we were having our World Blood Donor Day commemorations/celebrations- also issued a public statement on blood donation (Note: If the reader is interested in reading a news report of the President’s statement, please feel free to visit the linkhttp://www.herald.co.zw/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=44263:blood-donors-heroes-heroines&catid=49:health&Itemid=140 .The link and the full article have also been included in the appendix following this interview for one’s own convenience as well. Thanks).

So, this publicity has actually helped us in a massive way in enlightening the public about the organization. Blood donors are now coming forth. Even issues concerning our problems, challenges and constraints, I understand that the public is now getting to understand more about the organization. And so I think that this massive publicity has helped us a lot. We also encourage that this positive development/trend continues; not only in the state weekly of the Sunday Mail, but we also think and encourage the private owned papers and media can also assist us. This is of-course because of the fact that some people do not buy the state papers but they buy the private owned papers. Thus, if any information about our organization is also found there, it would help us a lot.

Interviewer: Alright, thanks Mr. Muparutsa. And, the final question for the sake of this interview and the audience that may listen in later on: are there any additional sources of information and means of getting in touch and/or in contact with the organization in the event that one would like to find out more? For instance, are there websites, social network groups/forums, e-mail addresses, and the like?




http://www.herald.co.zw/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=44263:blood-donors-heroes-heroines&catid=49:health&Itemid=140

Mr Muparutsa: Yes, yes, that’s correct. Information may be found on our website, also, we have got the Pledge 25 group/initiative on Facebook. We also have an e-mail address. We also have some pamphlets which we always issue out to blood donors; these will also give more information concerning the organization and also where we are found.

Of-course, the simplest thing also is for the public to phone in. We have got fixed telephone lines for Harare as well as Mutare and all other branches including Masvingo, Gweru, and Bulawayo.

So, information about the organization can be found in all facets as I have highlighted with you, including the website, email addresses, and also the Pledge 25 page on Facebook. (Note. Please may the reader find all the relevant contact details of the NBSZ in the appendix following this transcript. Thanks.)

Interviewer: Mr. Muparutsa, it has been a pleasure interviewing you. Thank you for your time and care and concern. This interviewer is very much enamored, and, he is very sure as well that the audience listening in has appreciated your time and care, and your thoroughness and concern.

And so, on this interviewer’s own behalf, as well as on the behalf of the audience listening in, thank you very much Mr. Muparutsa. May God speed both your efforts -your personal efforts as well as those of the NBSZ at large- thank you so much, thank you.

Mr. Muparutsa: Thank you very much; thank you…




Part 4 of 4 Appendix

Appendix:

� Below is the article featuring President Mugabe’s address on World Blood Donor

Day 2012 commemorations in Zimbabwe :

‘Blood donors heroes, heroines’ Thursday, 14 June 2012 12:49 0 Comments Herald Reporter President Mugabe has urged Zimbabweans to contribute to the country’s blood bank to save lives. In his address to the nation last night, the President paid tribute to the 50 000 blood donors in Zimbabwe. Today is World Blood Donor Day.

“I am happy to be associated with the World Blood Donor Day and the recognition of blood donors as heroes and heroines,” he said. President Mugabe said Zimbabwe was a signatory to the World Health Assembly Resolution 28:72 which urges all member states to promote the development of

National Blood Transfusion Services based on voluntary non-remunerated blood donation. “We are informed that the ministry’s donor programmes use relevant epidemiological information to develop appropriate criteria and requirements for accepting blood donors.

“My Government, therefore, has an obligation to promote the adoption of policies in line with ethical principles of voluntary non-remunerated blood donation. The nation wishes to congratulate our blood donor heroes and heroines for their blood donation that has saved lives in Zimbabwe and has seen the regular blood donor population growing to 50 000 regular blood donors in the country. I urge every fit and able person to volunteer and donate blood. Many among us should come forward as new blood donors.”

http://www.herald.co.zw/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=44263:blood-donors-heroes-heroines&catid=49:health&Itemid=140; accessed September 13th 2012






� The link for the facebook page of the Pledge 25 club of Zimbabwe

is http://www.facebook.com/pages/Pledge-25-Club-Zimbabwe/118035754897329 .

� The contact details for all the branch offices of National Blood Service of Zimbabwe are

as follows:

Harare:

Address: Mazowe Street North near Parirenyatwa Hospital

Phone: +263 4 707 801/4

E-mail: [email protected]

Bulawayo:

Address: 50 Josiah Tongogara Street Corner 4th Avenue

Phone: +263 9 887 086


Masvingo:

Address: Corner Hyles Street and Emsely Close

Phone: +263 39 263 573


Gweru:

Address: Gweru Showgrounds, Mvuma Road

Phone: +263 54 223976/226880




http://www.facebook.com/pages/Pledge-25-Club-Zimbabwe/118035754897329





Mutare:

Address: 27 George Silundika Street

Phone: +263 20 62789


� Finally, from the office of Mr. Muparutsa, this author was given a dummy/concept or

mock-up on what may be a forthcoming pamphlet of the organization concerning its vibrant and successful Pledge 25 youth donor program. Below was what both Mr. Muparutsa and his team had come up with as at September 10th 2012:

“Pledge 25 Concept”

“It’s a group of youths who pledge to give at least 25 units of blood in their lifetime. It’s a group which came along after a crew of outgoing form fours and sixes thought of the best way to continue saving people’s lives after they had finished school. It came about in full

play in 1994.”

“Goal”

“To contribute to a healthy nation through active youth participation.”

“Vision”

“To be leaders in the contribution of an HIV free and healthy community through a culture of

voluntary non-remunerated blood donation.”

“Mission”

“To consistently provide NBSZ with low risk and adequate blood, and contribute to the

overall well-being of the nation through innovative, cost-effective youth-oriented activities.”

“Core Values”






“1) Accountability to NBSZ in all club operations.”

“2) Non-discriminatory on the basis of sex, gender, race, tribe, religion, political affiliation

and any other means or forms among members or otherwise in its affairs.”

“3) Transparency in all activities.”

“4) Respect for individual choices and the right to privacy.”

“5) Collaboration with likeminded organizations.”




Documents

Donating blood its a good thing (By Tatenda Kangwende)