In fulfilling its annual commitment of donating blood, mobile telecommunications company Airtel Malawi staff member on Wednesday donated blood to Malawi Blood Transfusion Services as a way of setting an example by urging more people to donate blood.
The blood donation exercise took place at Airtel Malawi Headquarters offices in Lilongwe.
Leading by example was Airtel Malawi Managing Director Charles Kamoto.
Kamoto said as Airtel they feel they have a role to play in saving lives.
He said the company has shown commitment by taking the event on annual basis.
“We would like to encourage others to join us in this effort of saving lives through blood donation that is why we always find time each year to donate blood. We know the challenges the Malawi Blood Transfusion Service is facing to have enough stock in their blood banks therefore we urge more people to donate blood and save lives”, said Kamoto.
The exercise got a positive feedback as the majority of staff members came out to donate blood.
Malawi Blood Transfusion Service Assistant Public Relations Officer, Chikumbutso Mbendera said the demand for blood is high at the moment and myths are pulling them back in terms of having more people to donate blood.
“We have a challenge of low blood levels at the moment as we need 120,000 units of blood every year but our banks dont have such kind of units. We would like to thank Airtel Malawi as they have set an example for other organisations or companies to come forward to donate blood. This is very commendable. I would like to urge Malawians to support us by ignoring all the myths they hear about the exercise and contact us whenever they want information about blood donation or transfusion”, Mbendera said.
