Lilongwe Round Table 32 (LLW32) on Saturday teamed up with the Malawi Blood Transfusion Service (MBTS) in a blood donation drive in Lilongwe.
The event was organised to refill the depleted blood banks in the Central Region.
During the event at Woodlands, MBTS Lilongwe Centre nursing officer Whitemore Thumbiko Nyirongo appealed to Malawians to make blood donation a habit so that blood banks have enough to help save lives.
“As Lilongwe Blood Transfusion Centre, our annual target is 48 000 units of blood, but we are way below the required amount. This is because most people don’t donate blood.
“We have a big shortage of blood in our hospitals and there is need for a big intervention. We are grateful to LLW32 for organising this exercise as it gives us an opportunity to collect a significant amount of blood,” he said.
During the exercise, Nyirongo expressed optimism of collecting more than 50 units which can go a long way in saving lives.
LLW32 chairperson Kyle Willett led fellow members and well-wishers in the exercise.
“We host the blood drive donation at Woodlands three or four times a year because Malawi is always short of blood supply. We need to keep blood in the blood banks. It is important to keep the blood banks stocked so that when doctors need to help those in need, they have access to it,” he said.
Willet appealed to Malawians to make it a habit to donate blood saying a pint can save lives of at least seven people.
During the event, 70 units of blood were donated.
