Airtel Malawi employees on Tuesday, donated 83 units of blood in an annual blood donation exercise held to commemorate World Blood Donor Day.
The blood donation drive, which was conducted in partnership with the Malawi Blood Transfusion Service (MBTS), forms part of Airtel Malawi’s long-standing corporate social responsibility initiatives. The company has been organizing the exercise for over a decade, helping to strengthen the country’s blood reserves and ensure hospitals have adequate supplies for patients in need.
Among the donors was retired schoolteacher Andrew Mchisa, who made his 90th blood donation during this year’s event. Mchisa said he was inspired to become a donor in 1993 after witnessing his father require a blood transfusion.
“It is important to donate blood to save lives; therefore, it is important for the nation to undertake this exercise,” said Mchisa.
Speaking during the event, MBTS Public Relations Officer for the Central Region, Upile Kaimvi, commended Airtel Malawi for its continued commitment to blood donation.
“We are happy to have this initiative by Airtel. We have been holding this blood donation drive for the past 10 years. It is important to have enough supply of blood in our blood banks, and we are proud that we can supply blood to hospitals across the country,” said Kaimvi.
Airtel Malawi Managing Director Aashish Dutt said the company recognizes its responsibility to support communities beyond providing communication services.
“At Airtel, we believe in connecting people, and we feel that we have a social responsibility to donate blood and give life to people. We accommodate the needs of the community and help the government in several sectors, and blood donation is one of them,” said Dutt.
He added that the annual blood donation drive reflects Airtel Malawi’s commitment to responding to the country’s most pressing needs while contributing to a stronger national blood bank.
Blood remains a critical resource for healthcare facilities, benefiting accident victims, expectant mothers, patients with severe anaemia, and those undergoing surgery. Health authorities continue to encourage voluntary blood donation as a vital way of ensuring a safe and reliable blood supply for Malawians.
World Blood Donor Day is commemorated annually on June 14 to raise awareness of the need for safe blood and blood products and to thank voluntary donors for their life-saving contributions.
