Maputo — Mozambican health units are facing
a dramatic shortage of blood, according to the National Director of Medical
Assistance in the Ministry of Health, Ussene Isse.
Speaking
today, 28th December on the Radio Mozambique early morning chat show “Café de Manha”, Isse
said that the total amount of blood currently available in the health units is
1,273 units (each unit is half a litre). But the monthly requirements for blood
amount to 9.500 units.Isse reiterated the Ministry's appeal for blood donors. A massive amount of donated blood is required to bridge the gap, he said, particularly at a time when an increasing number of Mozambicans are falling victim to traffic accidents.
“At this time of year, blood is a vital liquid for saving lives”, he said. “Right now we have, in the entire country, a stock of 1,273 units of blood. It may seem a lot, but it's far too little to meet monthly needs of about 9,500 units. We have a very large deficit”.
“Our appeal is for people to support the
health service”, he urged. “Blood saves lives, not only for those who have been
in accidents, or who have been assaulted, but particularly in the maternity
units where blood is needed to save the lives of women”.
“We
are appealing to everyone to participate in the blood donation campaign so that
we can save more lives”, said Isse.He took the opportunity to condemn the sale of blood, and said this was not the practice of the Mozambican health service. He pledged that the Ministry will do all in its power to combat this kind of attitude, stressing that donors give blood out of their own free will.
“It is unethical for us to watch, in some places, people selling this precious liquid”, said Isse. “I urge vigilance. Members of the public should denounce these cases. Please bring them to light, so that we can take measures. We should fight very aggressively against people who are staining the precious and noble work undertaken by a large number of health workers”.
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