Mzuzu Rotary club in blood donation drive
Mzuzu Rotary Club members on Saturday donated blood to Malawi Blood Transfusion Services (MBTS) in a drive to avert shortage of blood in hospitals at a time when most students were on holiday.
The Rotary Club President Susan Gwamba said the club decided to donate blood to MBTS following an appeal from the institution.
Gwamba said the club decided to donate the blood as one way of making sure that the situation does not become critical.
“We saw it wise to start with this critical problem especially during this period when schools are closed, as main blood donors are universities and secondary school students,” she said.
The Club president assured MBTS that the club will continue making blood donations to the institution. She also urged residents of Mzuzu to regularly donate blood so as to complement students’ blood donations.
According to MBTS Northern Region Senior Public Relations Officer, Mphatso Bazale about 94 percent of blood donors are the youth from universities and secondary schools and blood donation declines during holidays.
Bazale cherished the partnership between MBTS and Mzuzu Rotary Club, saying it has helped MBTS to disseminate the message on the importance of donating blood.
“The partnership is important to us and we will benefit a lot as there is need for more people to take part in donating blood to minimize the shortage of blood hospitals face especially when schools close for holiday,” he said.
Mzuzu Rotary club is one of the organisations that has partnered with Malawi Blood Transfusion Service in blood donation.