Nchelenge Mission Hospital Blood Bank goes without blood for one month
The Blood Bank at St. Pauls Mission Hospital in Nchelenge has not been in operation for the past one month, thereby risking the lives of patients in need of blood transfusion.
Acting Nchelenge District Commissioner, Wilson Kasoloko confirmed the development to ZANIS in an interview today.
Mr. Kasoloko, who could not give reasons for the shortage of blood at the Hospital, appealed to health authorities in Luapula Province to urgently address the situation before lives are lost.
He said St. Pauls Mission Hospital caters for four districts namely, Nchelenge, Chienge, Kaputa and Mbereshi area in Kawambwa District and called upon the Ministry of Health to ensure that the Institution has adequate supply of blood at all times.
Mr. Kasoloko said blood, useful especially in saving the lives of accident victims during operations, mothers giving birth and anaemic children and adults should be in constant supply at the hospital.
A check at the District Health Office revealed that the hospital had not reported the shortage of blood.
ENDS/ESM/PK/ZANIS
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So whats the way forward… whats the solution
Even if it was available I would be stiff worried if I was in Nchelenge and they told me I needed a transfusion.
But what about HIV and AIDS Transmision is it not possible?, i dont trust man made machines for testing. interesting!
No need to worry. 100 hearses costing US$29,000 each are already in the country as has been planned by the “Over Educated MMD” schemers who are deliberately denying hospitals funding for vital medical services and supplies to justify their senseless purchases.
If people don’t die, who will use the hearses?
This is very scary, what happens during surgeries? Please people of Nchelenge lets give blood!
#2,3 Don’t worry about blood safety.Zambia has the best trained Biomedical sciences personell and you are lest assured that the blood that we get from donors is undergoes very strigent screening and our techniques are actually quality controlled both internally and externally.
#6 Nice try! In Nchelenge? lol!
However,the GOVT need to invest in HIV-PCR techniques in screening blood samples from donors in all the Hospitals.Currently the system that is used for HIV screening can only detect HIV antibodies after 10-12 weeks.Therefore if a donor was infected a week before donating blood,our current system can not detect the antibodies though the recipient of that blood can still be detected.The PCR technique can detect the HIV proteins within two days after infection.However ladies and gentlemen there is no need for panic as all the donors are also interviewed before donating blood.Questions include,whether or not he/she has had unprotected sex within a week or so…… If the answer is yes,then such a donor is immediately disqualified.
This means that at times we tend to rely on the honesty of blood donors.But if a blood donor tell lies then definately,he/she becomes a danger to would be recipents of the donated blood.Therefore as a matter of urgency,the MOH through cooperating partners like China should procure PCR machines and reagents instead of buying Hearses.
Biomedical Scientist Ever heard of Arthur Ashe?
Food for Blood will work!!
#11 But how safe is it J that`s the what I am worried about. Mind you, we are on about Nchelenge here man! Iwe!
#12 But how safe is it J? That`s what I am worried about. Mind you, we are on about Nchelenge here man! Iwe!
People are donating blood only that they don’t pass the test. Some blood has malaria some HIV. It’s really sad to see 100lt blood bn thrown away. And in most cases people are refusing to donate becoz they r just given 1lt of milk and 1kg suger after donating.
Off course there is no money for blood packs, tokens (drinks or milk) for donors and allowances for staff to conduct blood donations in schools and surrounding residential areas.
What do you expect?
Iye elo lwanya nomba
Surely this over dependance on blood from donors can be cutailed. Can’t they look at look at alternatives which are just as effective? Donated blood can also be medium through which certain diseases can be transmitted.
Could it be there are fewer donors as fewer people remain HIV negative.
just give pipo Bread and milk, they will be morre thatn happy to donate, there must also publises the dangers of not having blood available.
Blood in Zambia is safe. Donors are well selected,donated blood is tested for HIV Hep B Hep C and syphilis using ELISA technique.As for HIV, both antigens and antibidies are tested for.