Mobilizing Peers In Blood Donation.

As we walked through the corridors of Bangula Secondary School towards the hall in which students had assembled for a Blood Donation Motivational Talk in early July this year, we were informed by the Malawi Blood Transfusion Service (MBTS) Blood Donation Club’s Patron, Daveson Nkanda, that a grouping of students had prepared performances on blood donation.
It was such a sight to watch Christopher Butao, a Form 3 student and a Poet, articulating on the importance of blood donation specifically on the angle that as we walk on the surface of mother earth, each one of us is potentially a blood transfusion recipient.

Another performance, a Comedy, was perfomed by three students; Christopher Butao, Katano Lyson (Form 3) and Peter Katangala (Form 1). The focal message was a continuation of Butao’s poem in which one of the perfomer’s relative needed blood transfusion which unfortunately the hospital had run out in its blood bank.
According to Butao, the group thought it is wise not only in becoming blood donors but also in mobilising their peers for the same. “We all have a role to play in raising awareness on the importance of voluntary non – remunerated blood donation”, he said.

From left to right: Christopher Butao, Peter Katangala and Katano Lyson

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Katangala added that they believed the message would be easily understood if it was put across by fellow peers.
Currently, a one week blood donation awareness campaign targeting Secondary Schools in Nsanje district, yields an average of 600 units of blood from 400 units as was the case 2 years ago.

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