The National Blood Transfusion Service (NBTS) has through its safe blood programme surpassed its three-month blood collection target.
It has, however, decried massive theft of the little blood collected by some dishonest medical practitioners in hospitals.
The record achievement in blood collection is attributable to an increase in public awareness on the importance of blood donation, according to NBTS Marketing and Public Relations Officer, Rajab Mwenda.
Mr Mwenda, addressing reporters in Dar es Salaam warned, however, that the record collection might not be sustainable as the programme still depends on blood from students and other youth groups who constitute 80 per cent of the total donors.
During the period between July and September 2013, a total of 38,552 units of blood equivalent to 110 per cent of the target were collected compared to the target of collecting 35,000 units.
“That achievement might be contributed by a number of factors but we anticipate increasing awareness among the general public on the importance of giving blood was the main factor,” he said.
The programme, however, has not managed to reach the target of 400,000 to 450,000 units which is a national blood needs a year, with records showing it can only collect 26 per cent of the target.
Another record was reached between October, last year and September, this year where 139,676 units of blood were collected, equivalent to 99.8 per cent of the anticipated 140,000 units.
Statistics for the last three months on the other side show big difference in attaining zonal collections with records showing the Eastern Zone comprising of Dar es Salaam, Morogoro, Dodoma and Coast regions had collections of 13,669 units as opposed to 6,159 collected by the Northern Zone in the same period.
This trend, according to Mr Mwenda, is a direct reflection of why other hospitals are facing critical shortage of blood, although the programme has been struggling to supply them equally in hospitals in need.
But as the blood collection trend is showing slight improvement, yet all is not well with the programme, as it still report massive theft of the little blood collected involving some dishonest nurses and medical staff in some hospitals.
By PIUS RUGONZIBWA, Tanzania Daily News
