Zambia: The World Bank Zambia has taken the initiative of supporting the development of healthcare facilities of the country. They made a sizable donation of over six vehicles to the Zambia National Blood Transfusion Service. The estimated cost of the vehicles is about US$350,000.
The aim of the donation is to make sure that the patients who need blood transfusion services can get these services in a safe and timely manner. The Manager of World Bank Zambia stressed on the role that transportation plays in the provision of these facilities.
Ackim Fock assured the organization that the world bank will continue to support Zambia National Blood Transfusion Services. The handover of the vehicles was the first of several donations that the organization will make in the future.
Manager Fock said this in a speech read by World Bank Senior Operations Manager, John Makumba on his behalf. He was representing Ackim Fock during the handover of the vehicles.
According to Fock, the bank will rehabilitate the 10 provincial blood centres as well as the 20 blood hubs in the next eighteen months. The organization will help fully equip the Zambia National Blood Transfusion Services at an estimated overall cost of $3.5 Million.
“The event we are witnessing today, marks the beginning of a series of support to the Zambia National Blood Transfusion Services that includes rehabilitation of the 10 Provincial Blood Centres and establishment of 20 blood Hubs, 2 per province, fully equipped with blood refrigerators, plasma freezers, platelet shakers, and vehicles for mobilization, blood collection and distribution estimated to cost US$3.5million in the next 18 months,” he explained.
Minister of Health Sylvia Masebo said the vehicles will be distributed to six provinces. She further assured that the remaining four provinces of Zambia will also receive the vehicles in due course.
Minister Masebo noted that the donation of the vehicles is proof of a partnership between the World Bank and the Ministry of Health.
“As part of this investment we are highlighting, today we handover six motor vehicles to the Western, Southern, North Western, Eastern, Central, and Muchinga Provincial Blood Centers. In the coming months, the remaining four provinces will equally receive similar vehicles. This will strengthen the collection and distribution of Blood and Blood Products,” said Masebo.
Meanwhile, Masebo appealed to private and public health care facilities across the country not to sell blood.
The Minister noted that the government is the only distributor of blood to all health facilities.