Blood donation has always been associated with bad myths in Africa , even until recent times.  At one time parents ordered their children not to go to school for fear of their children's blood being sucked by vampires.  Rumors also circulate in the African continent saying that those donate blood are likely to become infertile and never bear children.  These speculations have been going the rounds since time immemorial and specialists are now going all-out to disprove them and create a more developed awareness.

A visit to the Malawi Blood Transfusion Services (MBTS) premises in Galaxy House in Blantyre, the Commercial Capital welcomes you with the words “Give Blood and Save Lives,” on the entrance door.

Blood Donor Manager, Olive Malomboza, says that MBTS is a project signed between the Government of Malawi and the European Union to the tune of 7.8 million Euros. The project aims to support the Malawi Ministry of Health and Population (MoHP) to establish an independent Malawi Blood Transfusion Service (MBTS) under a formally constituted Malawi Blood Transfusion Service Trust.

“The overall objective of the project is to reduce the incidence of HIV/AIDS and other diseases transmissible by blood in the Malawi population and to ensure the appropriate clinical use of blood through the establishment of a centralized blood transfusion service that will provide a safe and adequate blood supply for all those in need in recognized health care establishment,” says Malomboza.

According to MBTS, the cornerstone of a safe and adequate supply of blood and blood products is the blood donor.   Without the blood donor, thousands of people will die each year due to lack of this life-saving fluid.  It is against this background that MBTS is urging Malawian people to be altruistic, generous and regularly provide their blood for all those in need of this life-saving gift.

Club 25

A new initiative that is being promoted jointly by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the international Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies in Geneva has been launched in Malawi to promote safe blood donation amongst youth. The initiative, called “Club 25”, aims at developing a panel of safe blood donors from low risk population groups, who donate on a regular basis.

“Club 25” educates, motivates, recruits and retains young blood donors who are committed to a lifetime of donating blood.  This involves promoting safe lifestyle behaviors amongst the youth through the dissemination of appropriate information on avoidance of risky behaviors in order to prevent the transmission of HIV as well as a range of other diseases.

Joyce Nhlane, 22, is a Blantyre-based resident and a member of Club 25, a Club for young blood donors’ age between 16-25 years of age. Joyce says that she has been donating blood for some time now and none of these fears that the people speculate about blood donation have occurred to her.

“Our Club was formed four months ago. It aims at educating youth about blood donation and motivating them to open up and donate blood,” she says. She adds that, “The Club 25 is developing a culture of blood donation through recruitment and retaining young people in blood donation.”

Nhlane and Medger Mkonjo are two Malawian youths that will represent the country in South Africa on 14 June 2004 during the first ever commemoration of World Blood Donor Day.

Medger Mkonjo says that Club 25, which has a registered membership of 15 youths in Malawi , is on a nationwide campaign visiting secondary schools, colleges and universities to woo more youth to get involved in blood donation.

“Our colleagues in South Africa who started this long ago have made tremendous progress.  Their membership countrywide is around 35,000 and in Zimbabwe there are about 14,000 members who donate blood in Club 25 there. We intend to have more membership as well in Malawi just as our friends in South Africa and Zimbabwe ,” Mkonjo says.

It is expected that the new initiative will increase the MBTS blood donor base and will ensure a safe and adequate blood supply for those in need in Malawi .

South Africa Launches World Blood Donor Day

In a related development, South Africa 's National Blood Service (SANBS) has been chosen by the World Health Organization out of all other blood transfusion services across the globe to be the official host of the event.

The aim of World Blood Donor Day is to give particular thanks to voluntary, non-remunerated donors with a special focus on youth.  The day also commemorates the birthday of Karl Landsteiner, the Nobel Prize Winner who discovered the ABO blood group system.

The official launch takes place at the Mosalek Auditorium in Fairland, Johannesburg from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.   Celebrations include performances by Mandoza, the King of Kwaito, Heinze Winchler, winner of the idols completion in 2002, and the young and upcoming rock band Mono.  Mandoza, a leading singer in South Africa music circles, has dedicated a song from his latest CD to World Blood Donors Day, says the SANBS press release.

Former South African President Nelson Mandela is expected to attend and present a speech to be telecasted to the whole world.  The events of the World Blood Donor Day are supported by the collaborative efforts of four international organizations working for the provision of safe blood globally: the WHO, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, the International Federation of Blood Donors Organizations (FIODS) and the International Society of Blood Transfusion (ISBT).

“By designating one special day to celebrate the role of voluntary unpaid blood donors around the world, it is hoped that a new generation of blood donors will follow their example, providing the safest blood possible for use wherever and whenever it is needed to save life,” Diane De Coning, Director of procurement at SANBS is quoted as saying in the press release.

Malawi Celebrations

In Malawi, the World Blood Donor Day will be celebrated with blood donors having a walk in the commercial capital of Blantyre from the Hong-Kong Restaurant via Victoria Avenue Street and then proceed to Haile Seillasie Road.  The procession will join the Chipembere Highway then connect to Mahatma Gandhi Road ending the march at College of Medicine , says Dr. Charles Dzamalala, Chairman of the Malawi Blood Donors Association in an interview.

Dzamalala said that a number of activities have been outlined to commemorate the day, which includes thanking those that have been donating non-remunerated blood in the country. The function will also act as a medium to sensitize others to donate blood and save the lives of those people in danger. 

The need for blood donation cannot be overemphasized, Dzamalala says. “When a doctor prescribes blood, it is blood and blood only.  No blood means no life. It is unlike panadol whereby you go to one shop, you don’t find it you can look for it somewhere else,” he said.

Dzamalala says that it's high time that Malawians change their minds with regards to blood donations.

Henry Sopera, a resident of Manase - a squatter area in Blantyre - has been donating blood for some time and says he is going to participate in the walk. 

Another new donor, Dave Lemani, says that he was encouraged by his friend Henry and intends to make blood donations a routine activity for the rest of his life. 

Safe Blood

According to health specialists, blood is declared unsafe for transfusion when an activity or behavior exposes a person to the risk of acquiring infection that can be transmitted in blood to another person.

At-risk behaviors include intravenous drug use, promiscuous sexual activity, sex between males, prostitution, tattooing and blood rituals, the use of non-sterile needles for injection or non-sterile razor-sharp instruments (i.e. illegal circumcision, non-medical skin piercing interventions).

A single donation of blood is approximately 450ml (approximately two teacups). The average person has approximately five liters of blood.  Once donation is given, the fluid volume begins to be restored immediately and restoration of body fluid is completed within a few hours.  The plasma (the clear fluid in which the red cells are suspended) is replaced within 30-40 hours.  The red blood cells are replaced in 90 days. International standards state that blood can be donated every three months for both sexes.