Lilongwe communities in blood donation drive
Communities from Chitukula in Lilongwe on Friday took time to appreciate the process of blood donation and banking for hospitals when they toured the Malawi Blood Transfusion Services centre in the city.
The tour, facilitated by Parent and Child Health Initiative (Pachi), also took members of the communities to Bwaila Hospital where, among others, they also appreciated how the donated blood is used to help save lives.
Pachi project coordinator Hilda Chapota said her organisation, through its Reduction of Maternal and Child Health (RMCH) project, recognises the important role rural communities can play to help avert blood shortages in hospitals.
“Basically, we would like to turn these subjects into activists towards blood donation. But working with them through our maternal health initiatives, we noted that there were some myths and misconceptions that were hindering many to donate blood. The visit to these centres will help dispel all their fears towards the course.”
Chapota’s sentiments follow recent media reports that revealed acute blood shortage across the country’s health facilities; a move experts admitted risks more lives.
Speaking on behalf of the communities, Horiab Chimtokoma vowed to take the advocacy for more blood donation to greater lengths to help save more lives in hospitals; at least from what they had seen at the two centres. n
