Masvingo Province, 13 June 2008 -- In 2005, the World Health Assembly adopted a resolution establishing an annual World Blood Donor Day, to be celebrated on 14 June each year. The day which is meant to recognise, thank and honour those people who donate their blood voluntarily to save human lives was celebrated at Zimuto Secondary School in Masvingo Province. The theme, of Blood Donor Day this year is "Giving Blood Regularly". Encouraging voluntary Blood Donations is one of the objectives of the Blood Safety Strategy for the African Region adopted by the Ministers of Health during the fifty-first session of the Regional Committee held in Brazaville in 2001.In a speech read on her behalf, the World Health Organisation Representative to Zimbabwe, Dr Custodia Mandlhate stated that, the need to collect enough blood and to make it available to patients is more acute in developing countries like Zimbabwe. . 
She stated that, Zimbabwe has a well developed donor recruitment program which includes mobile collection teams and good quality collection systems.

Dr Mandlhate congratulated Zimbabwe which has a 100% voluntary blood donation system and has surpassed the targets set under the Regional Strategy for Blood Transfusion, that by 2012 all countries in the region should be able to collect at least 80% of blood donations from voluntary blood donors.

However, in spite of the good collection system the number of units of blood collected remains inadequate compared to the needs of patients. Dr Mandlhate thanked all the Voluntary Blood Donors for their valuable contribution to the country's efforts to provide adequate and safe blood for all patients in need. She informed the blood donors that, they constitute the back borne of blood transfusion services in Zimbabwe and that little could be achieved without their contribution through their precious gift, the gift of life. She called an all the people who are healthy and eligible to come forth and donate blood to save more lives and give joy to those who would otherwise die. Dr Mandlhate further stated that the World Health Organization will continue to provide the necessary support for Zimbabwe to build up reliable and effective blood transfusion services based on voluntary non-remunerated blood donations.

In his address to the audience the guest of honour, the Deputy Minister of Health and Child Welfare Dr E Muguti stated that, blood cannot be manufactured and this makes blood donors very important. It was for this reason that on this day Zimbabwe and the rest of the World thanked and acknowledged the voluntary Blood Donors. This was a day of solidarity to salute, thank and recognise the unsung heroes, who by their altruism had not only saved lives, but contributed to the health delivery system of the country. He said availability of adequate safe blood depended on the generosity of Voluntary Blood Donors. He applauded the pledge 25 club which is now contributing about 13% of total blood donations in the country.

World Blood Donor Day was well attended by both the community and school children. The theme was well addressed-through poems, music and drama from the school children. There was entertaining traditional dance from the adults punctuated by messages on the importance of donating blood. It was evident from the health information in the poems, songs and drama that health information has gone down well. The school was presented with a trophy for donating the most blood in Masvingo Province.