By Staff Reporter

Malawi Blood Transfusion Service (MBTS) has surpassed its annual blood collection target by 2,772 units of whole blood.

MBTS had a target of 75,000 units of blood from 1st July 2022 to 31st March 2023 and has managed to collect 77,772 units of whole blood representing a 104 percent.

Balaka Satellite Depot has emerged as the best performing center with a 118.3 percent followed by Odala Center (Blantyre) which has achieved a 103 percent. Mzuzu and Lilongwe Centers have achieved a 101 and 100 percent respectively.

Speaking in an interview, MBTS Acting Marketing and Public Relations Manager, Natalya Mbale, thanked all stakeholders for this achievement and appealed for more support.

“We are very delighted to reach this milestone and we would like to thank all blood donors who have helped save lives through their selfless donations.

A special thank you to all stakeholders who have partnered with us to make blood donation possible.

We look forward to our continued partnership in saving the lives of cancer patients, under – five children suffering from malaria – induced anaemia, road accidents victims, women with pregnancy related complications, patients undergoing surgical operations and trauma victims.

When we give blood, we save lives and help put a stop to blood shortages in our hospitals.” She said.

Echoing Mbale’s remarks, Assistant Public Relations Officer for Balaka Satelite Depot, McLloyd Kudzingo said the Depot has managed to collect 11,835 units against the annual target of 10,000 units of whole blood. This success is owed to the generosity of blood donors and all other stakeholders.

“We are very excited to confirm that the Depot has emerged as the best performer of all MBTS Centres and that for the second consecutive year, we have managed to beat our annual target.

Last financial year we had an annual target of 12,000 units of whole blood from 1st July 2021 to 30th June 2022 and we managed to exceed that by collecting 12,093 units of whole blood. And in the just ended fiscal year, we have managed to collect 11,835 units against the annual target of 10,000 units of whole blood.

We therefore would like to thank all blood donors and other stakeholders for their support towards the Depot to exceed these annual targets.” Said Kudzingo.

The Malawi Government established the Malawi Blood Transfusion Service as a nationally coordinated service with the mandate to ensure availability of safe blood supplies. The MBTS collects blood from voluntary non – remunerated blood donors, processes it for hospital blood banks to collect, transport, store, issue and administer to individual patients. The organisation has four established Blood Transfusion Static Centres in Blantyre, Lilongwe, Mzuzu and Balaka districts and conducts mobile blood donation clinics in learning institutions, work places, places of worship, associations and communities nationwide with the aim of meeting the country’s annual blood needs of 120,000 pints of whole blood.