From the School Nurse: Basic Information About Blood Donation

DONATE BLOOD AT AISL ON FRIDAY DECEMBER 7 
FROM 09:00 – 15:00 
HEALTH OFFICE

Who Can I Consult on Blood Donation?
The Zambia National Blood Transfusion Service (ZNBTS) is the only government department that has been mandated to collect blood from willing and eligible citizens throughout the country. ZNBTS is responsible for providing hospitals with adequate and affordable safe blood and blood products.
 
What Is Blood Donation?
This is the process by which a blood donor voluntarily donates his/her blood for subsequent transfusion of persons in need of blood.
 
Why Should I Become A Blood Donor?
To save lives of persons requiring blood transfusions:

• Most patients requiring blood transfusions are children under the age of five years and women suffering from complications of pregnancy, who could have died if blood was not immediately available.
• Blood is also needed for patients who have lost a lot of blood through accidents or surgical operations.

 
Who Can Donate Blood?

• To be a blood donor, any person, male or female, should be between 16 and 65 years of age, weigh at least 45kg and be in good health.
• All prospective blood donors should first pass a brief medical examination before they could be allowed to donate.
• Pre-donation counseling is given to every prospective donor to inform them about the tests to be done on their blood and the need to discuss test results with a ZNBTS donor counselor.
• Blood donation could either be arranged through an appointment at place or work, school or by going to any Provincial Blood Transfusion Centre.

 
How Long Does It Take To Donate?

• Overall, it takes about 30 minutes to complete the blood donation process.
• Persons in good health can donate blood every 12 weeks, i.e. every after three months, without posing any risks to their lives.

 
Can I Get An Infection By Donating Blood?
No. You cannot get an infection if you are donating blood to the ZNBTS, for the following reasons:

• Collection is done by trained nurse phlebotomists.
• The needles, tubing, bags etc. that are used for blood collection are sterile and disposable and each kit is used only once, for one donor, and thereafter disposed off safely.

Therefore, giving blood does not put a donor at risk of getting any infection such as HIV, Hepatitis or Syphilis.
 
How Does The ZNBTS Ensure That Patients Receive Safe Blood?
This is achieved by adopting an appropriate and comprehensive blood safety strategy premised on the WHO and national guidelines, which emphasize:

• Dependency on voluntary non-remunerated blood donors from low risk population groups.
• Use of stricter criteria for selection of blood donors.
• Mandatory laboratory testing of donated blood for infections, including HIV, Hepatitis B and C and Syphilis.
• Promotion of appropriate clinical use of blood in hospitals.

 
How Will I Know That My Blood Is Safe, In Order For Me To Continue Donating Regularly?

• 48 hours following your donation, your results will be ready and can be discussed with a trained counselor by an appointment.