Decreasing blood reserves worry MBTS
The country’s blood banks risk running dry should well-wishers keep shunning donating blood to Malawi Blood Transfusion Services (MBTS).
MBTS centre manager for Lilongwe, James Palapandu, said this in Lilongwe on Friday during an Airtel Malawi Open Day when the mobile telecommunications company staff donated blood.
“It’s an open secret that students form our biggest source of voluntary blood collection. Our efforts have been greatly hampered by most schools closing and some students concentrating on examinations.
“Nevertheless, what we collect has of late been below the recommended minimum to be supplied to health facilities,” said Palapandu.
Airtel Malawi chief commercial officer Charles Kamoto bemoaned the decimal blood stocks at the country’s strategic reserves, saying the development prompted his company to respond to calls by MBTS.
“Much as we are a business entity, Airtel realises the value of a healthy clientele. We believe in life; hence, we wanted to demonstrate that we care for our customers by participating in this exercise,” said Kamoto.
