Pemba residents encouraged to donate blood

PEMBA: A SAFE blood donation campaign has been rolled out across Pemba's four districts as health officials seek to increase supplies for hospitals facing high demand for transfusions.

Pemba Safe Blood Coordinator Adinani Ali Hamadi said regular blood donation is vital for saving the lives of mothers, pregnant women, children under five, accident victims and other patients requiring transfusions.

“Safe blood services are provided free of charge to help patients,”Hamadi said.

He said blood collected in Pemba is transported to the Safe Blood Unit in Unguja for screening before being distributed to hospitals once it meets the required safety standards.

Hamadi encouraged more residents to become regular donors, saying the process enables people to know their blood group and receive screening for HIV, syphilis and hepatitis B and C.