Harare — A nine-member delegation from Tanzania was in Zimbabwe on a mission to draw lessons on how to collect safe blood and ways to upgrade their blood transfusion services.

The visit came in the wake of the Zimbabwe National Blood Transfusion Services attainment of an International Organisation for Standardisation Certificate for quality and safe blood, the first institution in Africa to attain such a certificate.

Addressing the delegation comprising of lawyers, accountants and health professionals in Harare last Wednesday, the Minister of Health and Child Welfare, Dr David Parirenyatwa, said Zimbabwe's blood bank was certified safe because of its ability to screen for HIV and Aids and other non-communicable diseases.

Head of the delegation, Diagnostic Services Assistant Director in the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Dr Charles Massambu, said the Tanzania National Blood Transfusion fell under the diagnostic services department.

The delegation met Zimbabwe's financial partners and health institutions before leaving for South Africa on the same mission.