MBTS scoops 110,000 pints of blood in 2023/24

Malawi Blood Transfusion Services (MBTS) has expressed it’s voluptuousness over the effort that citizens put to combat blood shortages in the hospitals.

Malawi Blood Transfusion Services (MBTS) Marketing and Public Relations Manager, Janet Katonda has underscored the need of resuming the development to save lives.

She therefore, expressed gratitude over the blood transfusion process saying that 2023/2024 year MBTS has managed to surpass their yearly target 110,000 pints of blood and managed to collect 122, 428 representing 11% as compared to last year which was 77,754 pints of blood collected.

Katonda said last year their target was to collect 75,599 pints of blood but they also surpassed with 3% and the process of blood collection is progressing at a higher rate every year due to major factors like the involvement of church leaders, community leaders, and different stakeholders.

She expressed satisfaction on the development, saying it shows that there is future in saving people’s lives through blood donation.

“The country’s hospitals continue experiencing persistent blood shortage especially when schools are on holiday, MBTS suffers as a majority of blood donors are students.

“We usually have more blood during school times, but when schools are closed the situation worsens because blood becomes scarce in hospitals.

“This is very challenging considering that blood in hospitals is needed at all times. So the point is to encourage citizenry to participate in donating blood exercise all year round,”she said.

“As MBTS we are geared to strengthen our relationship with different corporate organizations, stakeholders, donors as well as community leaders since these partners play a big role in the blood transfusion process as they help to mobilize people to donate blood and make sure that blood donation facilities are available, “ said Katonda.

In his remarks, the Executive Director of Malawi Health Equity Network (MHEN) George Jobe Said, they have been taking the initiative of sensitizing people on the importance of donating blood to those in need.

“We are grateful to hear that MBTS has surpassed their target, as an organization we have been engaging MBTS to have the USSD strategy as a way of communicating with communities on the blood donation process so it’s very pleasant to us,” said Jobe.