Malawi surpasses blood quantity requirements

Malawi has surpassed its annual national blood requirement of 120 000 units, Malawi Blood Transfusion Service acting chief executive officer Dr. Bridon M’baya has disclosed.

Speaking in an interview earlier today after receiving a K7 million donation for the purchase of a tent from Old Mutual Malawi plc, Dr. M’baya said the country collected 122 000 units of blood last year.

He said: “It’s pleasing that over the years the MBTS blood collections have been on the rise. We still have a challenge that the blood is not collected evenly throughout the year.

“We have times when the collections are low and we have times when the collections are high. But overall the collections have improved.”

He thanked various stakeholders for helping MBTS achieve this feat. He said support that the service receives from orgnisations such as Old Mutual has contributed to this success.

Dr. M’baya said the donation for the purchase of the tent will help MBTS when carrying out open air blood donations.

“We collect blood in various places, in some instances we collect blood in open spaces where the weather conditions may be harsh.

This tent will help our blood donors to donate blood in a conducive environment,” he said.

Speaking in a separate interview Old Mutual plc human capital executive said the donation was part of the company’s 70th anniversary celebrations.

“We have been celebrating this 70 years of existence and as part of that celebrations we have been holding the Old Mutual Cares Week. Today we have donated K7 million towards the purchase of the tent,” he said.

Apart from the donation, Old Mutual staff are donating blood throughout the day.

In the picture, an Old Mutual member of staff donates blood.