Impact of COVID-19 on blood donation and transfusion services at Lusaka provincial blood transfusion centre, Zambia

Abstract

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a novel respiratory tract disease that is caused by a novel severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Coronavirus disease 2019 was first reported in Wuhan, China, and spread to other countries at a very rapid rate. Coronavirus disease 2019 has caused many negative impacts on healthcare and educational services. Due to an increase in COVID-19 cases and mortality, blood donation has been reported to reduce in many parts of the world. Zambia is among the countries that have recorded a sharp reduction in blood donations. It is therefore important that healthcare institutions put in place measures to promote the supply of blood and maintain blood transfusion services.