NBSZ launches 2025 festive blood drive, targets 7,800 units amid holiday demand surge

The National Blood Service Zimbabwe launches its 2025 festive blood donation campaign, targeting 7,800 units to meet increased holiday demand (image source)

The National Blood Service Zimbabwe (NBSZ) has launched its 2025 festive season blood donation campaign, setting an ambitious target of nearly 8,000 units to meet heightened demand over the holidays. Running from 1 December to mid-January, the drive is designed to cushion seasonal pressure on national supplies, driven by increased travel, road accidents, emergency procedures, and the temporary closure of schools, which reduces availability from younger regular donors.

NBSZ Chief Executive Officer Lucy Marowa urged Zimbabweans from all walks of life to step forward, emphasising the campaign’s focus on generosity, joy, and the life-saving value of blood. “We are counting on you, as the Republic of Zimbabwe, to come together to share the gift of life, the gift that keeps on giving,” she said, adding that this year’s rallying call “jingle all the way to the blood bank” underscores a festive spirit of giving. Marowa stressed that each donation can save lives, particularly during December and early January when demand traditionally spikes. She encouraged first-time donors, returning donors, and lapsed donors to visit their nearest clinic and support the national effort. “By giving blood, you are giving the most precious gift of all — a gift of life,” she said.

NBSZ is intensifying outreach through community campaigns and more than 90 mobile collection points nationwide. Static clinics will operate daily through 24 December, pausing only on 25–26 December (Christmas Day and Boxing Day) and 1 January (New Year’s Day), before resuming through mid-January to complete the festive drive.

The festive campaign sits within NBSZ’s broader 2025 annual goal of 97,500 units. Between January and October, the service collected over 73,000 units, already reaching roughly 90% of its yearly target and positioning the organisation to surpass last year’s total of more than 77,000 units. Marowa said this performance reflects growing donor confidence and improved outreach logistics, but cautioned that sustained momentum is vital in December and January, when demand is acutely sensitive to accident spikes and emergency admissions.

The festive season traditionally brings increased road traffic and travel, which correlates with a higher incidence of trauma cases. Hospitals also schedule critical procedures before year-end, while schools — a consistent source of young donors — close for holidays. This combination heightens the need for readily available blood and components for surgery, trauma care, maternal health, and paediatric cases. NBSZ is urging communities to mobilise locally, highlighting that a single unit can benefit multiple patients through component therapy (red cells, plasma, platelets), multiplying the impact of each donor’s contribution.

How to contribute

• Find a clinic: Visit the nearest NBSZ static clinic or look for mobile collection points advertised locally.

• Plan your visit: Bring ID, eat beforehand, and stay hydrated.

• Return regularly: Eligible donors can give safely at recommended intervals; regular donations stabilise national supply.

• Spread the word: Encourage friends, workplaces, churches, and clubs to organise group donations.

NBSZ’s message is clear: a strong festive donation turnout will save lives and set Zimbabwe up for a resilient start to 2026.