Testimonials
Christine Shaamano
My name is Christine Shaamano, I started donating blood when I was a school girl, way back when I used to stay in Zambia. At first I donated blood for fun so that I could be given a tin of tinned fish which was something special to a school girl in a boarding school. As a student we used to donate once during the school term. Then one day about a month after donating, the headmaster called me to his office and introduced me to visitors in his office. They were from the NBTS and they were asking 4 my blood because somebody urgently needed my blood. My headmaster had initially refused to let them talk to me but after they assured him that I was going to be ok, he then allowed them to see me. That day I gave donated another unit of blood. They left a message with my headmaster that if I have any health complications he must urgently call NBTS.
The unit of blood which I gave saved their lives because they had failed to get the blood group which matched the wife’s. The husband offered to give me some token of appreciation but my mother refused and told the man that she had 7 daughters and if one of them faced the same situation she would not be able to do what they done. She said the fact that they had taken the trouble to look for the donor was enough gratitude.
From that moment I have donated blood not in return for a tin of fish but to save a life. Let us donate blood, other women somewhere needs it. Come to think of it ladies, we need more blood than our male counterparts because we undergo difficult births, operations, involved in accidents etc. Somebody in one of the country’s hospitals is dying because of lack of your blood. Are you going to let another woman and child die when u can help? Remember the life you save might be yours, your relative’s or even your child’s.
Today I have given more than 100 donations because blood is indeed a precious gift of life.
Advocate Rodgers Matsikidze
My story to be a blood donor began way back after I had witnessed a road traffic accident near Mushandikwe Secondary School which is a high school where I did my secondary education. Later, I learnt that those people who had been injured will require a blood transfusion and immediately I started to wonder, asking my myself where will they get this blood. That is when I realized that there was an organization back then which was known as the Blood Transfusion Service Zimbabwe (NBTSZ).
One day NBTS (as it was known back then) came at our school and I was one of the first students to be at the mobile clinic curious to know more about giving blood. I was told that if I donated my blood it means that I will be saving somebody’s life, & this blood will go towards accident victims like the one you witnessed. Those people were saved by somebody who donated their blood. Immediately I decided that I will want to do this. I was pleased to learn that I could donate blood even when I’m an adult for as long as you are healthy. Instantly I was recruited and ever since then I have been a regular blood donor. I won’t be stopping anytime soon because my target is to give over a 100 donations.
Christina Nyirenda – Chimuka
It was a bitterly cold day in July of 2016, when my doctor advised us that in order for me to survive I needed to have a blood transfusion. This news dealt a heavy blow to my family and I as I had endured a very traumatic few days after an operation that somehow went wrong. My life was in danger and I was hanging on by a thread. Initialling, my family were apprehensive about the prospect of blood transfusions, and so was I. After a few hours of my family discussing the way forward it was finally decided that there was no other way but to have the blood transfusion. My brother in law who is also a medical doctor assured my family that National Blood Services Zimbabwe provides the best and safest blood products that he knows in Southern Africa. My condition was getting worse and after the necessary preparations my blood transfusions began. It was a long and unnerving night for me as pint after pint the blood was transfused into my weak body, but as the saying goes “joy comes in the morning”. As the last pint was finished I was tired but revived. I was alive and started my journey of recovery. My heartfelt gratitude goes to the blood donors for their selfless sacrifices. My life was saved by people I do not even know and I am eternally grateful. Thank you to National Blood Services Zimbabwe for the sterling work that you are doing to save lives!
One day NBTS (as it was known back then) came at our school and I was one of the first students to be at the mobile clinic curious to know more about giving blood. I was told that if I donated my blood it means that I will be saving somebody’s life, & this blood will go towards accident victims like the one you witnessed. Those people were saved by somebody who donated their blood. Immediately I decided that I will want to do this. I was pleased to learn that I could donate blood even when I’m an adult for as long as you are healthy. Instantly I was recruited and ever since then I have been a regular blood donor. I won’t be stopping anytime soon because my target is to give over a 100 donations.
Pauline Matambanadzo (Blood Recipient)
Our first assumption even when we are children is that we will grow up. Second assumption is that we will get married, have children and live happily ever after. Even when we live with a sick relative or an ailing neighbour, we never stop to think that that person’s reality is a possible variation of the assumptions we make.
That this ailing person might not see the grand age of 18, for instance. I remember in high school there was this stunning girl — I will just call her SK. She had poise way beyond her years, more clothes and “stuff” than any 10 of us put together. She was the life of the party, poised and basically lived an apparently charmed life. We all thought she would be someone, go places, do great things and live on an even grander scale than what she did in high school. But she died a few months into our Lower Sixth year. Neither medicine nor money could save her. She needed several organ transplants, and it just could not be done. We were heartbroken, shocked and frightened. Our lives moved on and I almost forgot about her.
So I assumed this would be the end for me. I first made arrangements as to who would look after my two boys, what would happen to my assets — in short saying goodbye world. But my best friend, a blood donor from my family, came through for me and I got the life-saving fluid. I have never looked so lovingly at anything as I did the yellowish, fatty-looking frozen plasma being fed into me via I.V. over the next nine days.
Needless to say I am still standing. I don’t make so many assumptions as I used to. I don’t take people and things for granted as before.
I make more time for living, loving and sharing than before. I recently found out that it takes about 13 pints of blood to extract six pints of plasma. That’s at least 13 people or blood donors who saved my life. I don’t know them, but I will always pray for them and all donors. And I will never forget my schoolmate SK.
As a blood recipient, I am appealing to all healthy people to take time and give blood. To those of you who can, please support the fund-raising banquet that is set for November 15 2012 at the Rainbow Towers.
You can also make a difference by donating towards the distress fund and help those needy persons who require blood to get another chance to life. I am alive today because of blood donors who have pledged to save lives. I also want to save a life by encouraging people to donate blood and being part of the NBSZ activities.
One day NBTS (as it was known back then) came at our school and I was one of the first students to be at the mobile clinic curious to know more about giving blood. I was told that if I donated my blood it means that I will be saving somebody’s life, & this blood will go towards accident victims like the one you witnessed. Those people were saved by somebody who donated their blood. Immediately I decided that I will want to do this. I was pleased to learn that I could donate blood even when I’m an adult for as long as you are healthy. Instantly I was recruited and ever since then I have been a regular blood donor. I won’t be stopping anytime soon because my target is to give over a 100 donations.
The unit of blood which I gave saved their lives because they had failed to get the blood group which matched the wife’s. The husband offered to give me some token of appreciation but my mother refused and told the man that she had 7 daughters and if one of them faced the same situation she would not be able to do what they done. She said the fact that they had taken the trouble to look for the donor was enough gratitude.
From that moment I have donated blood not in return for a tin of fish but to save a life. Let us donate blood, other women somewhere needs it. Come to think of it ladies, we need more blood than our male counterparts because we undergo difficult births, operations, involved in accidents etc. Somebody in one of the country’s hospitals is dying because of lack of your blood. Are you going to let another woman and child die when u can help? Remember the life you save might be yours, your relative’s or even your child’s.
Today I have given more than 100 donations because blood is indeed a precious gift of life.
Glyn Germyn
My name is Glyn Germyn, I was born in Gweru in 1948 and I have been in Zimbabwe all my life since birth. What motivated me to become a blood donor was the inspiration I got from my sister who was already a committed regular donor. She would tell me of the good feeling she felt especially after donating blood, knowing that her blood was definitely going to save a life in desperate need of it. For me this was fascinating until one day I decided to accompany her to the bloodbank and when I saw how simple the process was, I quickly joined in and gave my first donation. I became a blood donor in 1973 and I haven’t stopped since then. I have so far given 248 donations.
My experience as a blood donor has been wonderful and memorable. I’ve enjoyed the warmth, comfort and professionalism of NBSZ staff and above all I’ve enjoyed the exalted feeling that I have felt after every blood donation of knowing that a life is going to be saved by my selfless sacrifice.
Being a blood donor for such a long time hasn.t affected my life in any way. Contrary to myths and beliefs out there about blood donation that I have heard where some people claim that if you give blood your body won’t be able to replenish that blood, some claim your immune system will be weak and many other funny unfounded stories, I want to emphasize that nothing of that sort is true as I am a living testimony. Virtually nothing has changed in my life, I’m still healthy and functioning normally after almost 50 years living a lifestyle of giving blood. I work at Convent Girls High School as a physical education teacher and coach. Donating blood has not even affected how I perform at work, in fact it has seen me become a motivator to many young girls who most of them have since joined me in this noble cause. While at home I am able to do all my household chores, I eat normally and sleep peacefully like a log.
I would like to take this opportunity and thank the government for the Free blood initiative which has made blood accessible to all Public Health Institutions free of charge. This is a motivation to all of us as Zimbabweans as no life should be lost because of blood shortages. This is now a challenge to us all, lets support the blood donation programme, it is ours to succeed.
I particularly want to encourage women and young girls to actively take up blood donation because about 50% of the blood in the bloodbank goes to maternal health related cases. Let’s donate blood as much as we consume it. I hope my experience and testimony is reason enough to motivate someone out there. Give blood because it really saves lives.
Nomusa Isabel Mukadzambo (Former Pledge 25 SG)
The old saying, “You can be near the church, but very far away from God” seems very fit for my life as a blood donor. I got exposed to NBSZ logos and literature at a very young age through my uncle, Peter Mukadzambo (Bless his soul) who was a Blood Donor Recruiter at NBSZ then NBTS. Years later, my brother Tinashe Mukadzambo began to talk about donation and the Club, but it still made little sense to me.
The 10th of June 2003 at Dzivaresekwa high 1 my journey began with my first blood donation. In 2005 during my long holiday, awaiting O level results I learnt about Pledge 25 Club through a neighbour. After attending one of the Club meetings, I decided to be a full time volunteer. After the third Zone meeting, my interest developed into an unexplainable passion. Because of my zeal and interest, I was elected as Dzivarasekwa Zone Secretary in 2006. In 2007 I was elevated to Chairperson of the Zone. In 2008 I was voted in as the Harare Branch Chairperson, and ultimately as P25 Club National Secretary General. I served in this capacity for 3 consecutive years (2009-2012).
My reasons for giving blood was not for recognition, prestige or personal gain. If it was for recognition I would have stopped when my term as the Club Secretary General ended. If it was for personal gain I would have stopped the day I lost my mother to lack of blood. Rather, the sad experience fired me on. I had lost a mother, but not everyone else so I had to save those lives still remaining.
Though it was not smooth I graduated from being recruited to be a recruiter, motivated to be a motivator and above all a life skills coach. How so? I used to tag along the then Customer Relations Officers when they visited the blood donor collection sites such as schools, churches and community groups. Then one day I volunteered to speak to girls only at Langham high and surprised them with a brilliant question and answer session. That is when I discovered my hidden skills in coaching the youth, particularly the girl child.
It was and still is my wish to see more female donors graduate in the Pledge 25 Club. I was challenged when I learnt that few ladies fulfil their pledge. The major reason why ladies do not make it to 25 donations, I figured, is what they do in relationships or the people they get involved with in those relationships. They will be on different wave length with their partners and in the end women give up. For example I know of a friend and fellow office bearer, who initially had the same commitment as mine to get to 25 donations. Sadly, her then boyfriend who was not a blood donor was not comfortable with her coming to youth functions. He asked her to choose between him and the Club, and for my friend the boyfriend carried the day. To date she still has 4 donations and no longer keen to donate.
With me it was a different story, I was blessed with a perfect partner ‘Liberty Chimedza’ who supported me all the way. He had once or twice donated for refreshments but when he spotted my passion he opted to be a regular blood donor right away. To date he has 14 donations, and still counting. I am proud to say I made it to 25 donations because of him.
It was always my dream to graduate from the club before marriage. As women it is in a way difficult to fulfil our pledge once married because of what is expected of us, things like pregnancies and breastfeeding which make us ineligible to donate. The other reason is the competition blood donation suffers with other chores in the new role. The new roles of being a mother, housewife, and at times worker tend to push blood donation to the bottom of the to-do-list.
Then the most memorable coincidence in my life happened. What had always been dreams became a double reality within hours of each other. I gave my 25th donation, my last milestone, on August 4 2014. The 25th award ceremony where I got my treasured Certificate and plaque happened coincidentally on my wedding eve the 29th of August. My Pledge 25 graduation and my wedding were exactly 12 hours apart!
Being a blood donor tells a story about one’s life. I attribute my current status as a happily married woman to the role that being a blood donor played in my life. Being a blood donor helped me cross the flooded river where most girls got swept away. I am happy to say am safely on the other side. As long as I am eligible to donate NBSZ is assured of my unit, in fact they will be two on each visit.
Emmanuel Nyamande
There are incidences in life which strike when we least expect them. In most instances these developments often leave their victims isolated, devastated, and at times hostile to family members, friends and even work mates. We read of sad scenarios in the newspapers where people commit suicide after having tested HIV positive and /or develop a reckless life style which does not only endanger immediate family members but the community at large. We also read of instances where victims of road traffic accidents or cancer are abandoned by their spouses, neglected by family or lose their jobs after having lost a limb/s.
However, other victims quickly come to terms with the new reality on the ground such that it becomes a lot easier for family and friends to lend a supporting hand. In this scenario victims often live longer because of this positive life approach.
After having fallen victim to a near fatal road traffic accident where I ended up receiving 6 units of safe blood and my left arm amputated just above the elbow, I later realized that God has a master plan for everyone of us, ending one’s own life is not God’s plan, in fact it is a sin to terminate one’s own life-
For it is written “thou shall not kill”
Among the many friends I now have, is National Blood Service Zimbabwe (NBSZ) , I did not only receive safe blood from the national blood bank through Chitungwiza Central Hospital- but NBSZ also sponsored the purchase of my artificial limb on December 28, 2011. (see picture) .
Had it not been because of this timely intervention by Dr Obediah Moyo the Chitungwiza Central Hospital CEO in conjunction with NBSZ, I would have been history. After having been given a second chance by God The Almighty, I am a changed person, I value other people’s lives, I value friendship, I value family and giving. You can also do the same.
The NBSZ is a non profit making organization whose thrust in the next three years is to improve blood collections nationwide, improve donor retention and to increase access to blood and blood products. To achieve this, the NBSZ management has determined a fund raising target of approximately $1million for the year 2012.
They are appealing to you as an individual, organization, the corporate world for support in establishing a Distress Fund to help pay blood for needy patients and other essentials that will improve the affordability and accessibility of life saving blood to everyone in need of blood and blood products throughout the country.
As a blood recipient and now blood donor I would like to thank all voluntary blood donors for saving thousands of lives including mine.
The Bible states (Proverbs 22 Vs 1) “If you have to choose between a good reputation and great wealth, choose a good reputation”. Verse 29 further states that: “Show me someone who does a good job and I will show you someone who is better than most and worthy of the company of kings”.
Dear reader, show Zimbabwe your good reputation and be worthy of the company of kings, NBSZ Distress Fund can only be a reality through your worthy reputation.
Fungisai Zvakavapano – Mashavave
Blood is the most precious gift that anyone can give to another person, the gift of life. Have you ever imagined women with complications of pregnancy, such as ectopic pregnancies and hemorrhage before, during or after childbirth; All of us, no matter how big or how small, whether male or female, we all owe our lives to a woman and yet a lamentable number of mothers are losing life when giving life. We can be heroes of our own society without having to part with a dime. Tragedies like accidents and illness can happen to anyone hence it’s important to do unto others as we would want them to do unto us. I strongly believe in my calling as a life saver, both physically and spiritually and you too can be a life saver through supporting the National Blood Service Zimbabwe in their fundraising activities.
I will be performing at the “Partners For Life” Fundraising Banquet on 29 March. Make a difference, buy a ticket and let’s partner together in this very noble cause.
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