Give Blood and Keep the World Beating
On 14 June 2021, the Malawi Blood Transfusion Service (MBTS) in collaboration with Ministry of Health will join the World Health Organization (WHO) and the international community to commemorate the World Blood Donor Day (WBDD) under the theme: ‘Give Blood and Keep the World Beating’.
The WBDD was designated an annual event on every 14 June by the ministers of health of all WHO Member States at the World Health Assembly in 2005 and is jointly coordinated by four founding partners: the WHO, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, the International Federation of Blood Donor Organizations and the International Society of Blood Transfusion to recognize and honour the people who donate blood voluntarily without expecting any payment in return for the blood they give.
This year’s event is being commemorated under theme: ‘Give Blood and Keep the World Beating’. Safe blood is critical both for treatments and urgent interventions. It helps patients suffering from life-threatening conditions live longer and with a high quality of life and supports complex medical and surgical procedures. MBTS is imploring all Malawians to recognize the critical importance of voluntarily donated blood and how essential blood and blood products are in saving lives. Further a call is made to ensure availability of safe and sufficient blood in the hospitals to address the demand for blood transfusions.
According to the WHO, every day about 800 women die from pregnancy or childbirth – related complications in the world. Mostly under-five children need blood and blood products due to malaria-induced anaemia. Almost all of these deaths occur in developing countries. More than half of them occur in sub-Saharan Africa including Malawi.
Although women and children remain major recipient groups of blood transfusions, it is worthwhile to note that blood and blood products are needed by both males and females suffering from cancer and other diseases. Trauma victims are amongst major beneficiaries of blood transfusion.
However, access to safe and sufficient blood and blood products still remains a major challenge for many low income countries globally including here in Malawi where voluntary unpaid blood donation fails to yield the needed 120,000 whole blood units per year.
In line with this year’s theme ‘Give Blood and Keep the World Beating’, everyone is invited to take part in the commemorations by making the decision to become a regular blood donor or support the work of the MBTS in voluntary unpaid blood donation.
For More Information Contact: Allen Kaombe, MBTS Public Relations Manager on 0888 206 934/kaombea@mbtsmalawi.com/mbtsinfo@mbtsmalawi.com.