Gweru private college wins schools blood competition

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A newly-established private college in Gweru, Progress College, won the provincial schools blood donation competition, after its pupils donated 297 units

A newly-established private college in Gweru, Progress College, won the provincial schools blood donation competition, after its pupils donated 297 units of blood to the National Blood Services Zimbabwe (NBSZ), Midlands Province. REPORT BY STEPHEN CHADENGA

Speaking at a Press briefing at provincial World Blood Donor Day commemorations on Thursday, NBSZ Midlands public relations officer Aggrey Ngazana said the college’s donation contributed to 12% of the provincial collections.

“Progress College, a newly established institution based in Mkoba 14, Gweru, is this year’s winner of the provincial schools blood donation competition,” he said. “Students from the college donated 297 units of blood.”

Ngazana said youths, particularly from schools, formed the biggest number of blood contributors, but bemoaned what he called “adult donor apathy” in the province.

“It is unfortunate that despite adults being the biggest consumers of donated blood, there is general adult donor apathy,” he said. “We urge adults to come out and donate blood.”

Responding to questions from Southern Eye on rumours that blood from the Midlands State University was the most rejected because it was contaminated, Ngazana was non-committal saying as NBSZ, they dealt with donors confidentially.

“We deal with donors in a private and confidential manner. We never release such information to the public,” he added.