1. What is the MBTS and what do you do?
Malawi Blood Transfusion Service (MBTS) was established in 2003 as a trust by the Malawi Government through the Ministry of Health with the objective of providing safe and adequate blood supplies to those in need of blood transfusion in all authorised hospitals in the country.

2. What type of blood do you look for?
Blood of all types, from blood donors at lowest risk of transfusion transmissible infections (TTI’s) such as HIV, malaria, syphilis and hepatitis B and C.

3. How do I know if my blood is good for donating?
MBTS conducts motivational talks with the aim of letting potential donors know who is eligible for blood donation. Potential blood donors are informed about who can and who cannot donate blood. Blood donors are given an opportunity to seek clarification on all issues to do with blood donation. In addition, the MBTS has blood donation leaflets that also inform blood donors about who is eligible to donate blood. Everyone wishing to donate blood for the first time is encouraged to read these leaflets or attend a blood donation motivational talk before donating blood. This will enable you to know if your blood is good for donating.

4. Where do I go if I want to donate blood?
Blood can be donated at our static clinics at The O’dala Centre on Corner Leslie road/Victoria Avenue at Mount Pleasant in Blantyre and Lilongwe Centre along Mzimba Street in Lilongwe next to Kamuzu Central Hospital. Shortly, donors in the northern region will be able to donate at Mzuzu Blood Transfusion Centre adjacent to the Mzuzu Health Centre.

5. How much blood will you take from me?
The amount of blood taken will depend on body weight of the individual, who must be aged between 16-65 years. If one weighs 42-44 kg, 250 ml of blood are donated whilst donors with body weight exceeding 45 kg donate 450 ml (1 pint). Note that on average, a grown up person has about 5,000 ml of blood.

6. What is the process that is followed in donating blood?
First is donor registration which involves completing a blood donor form with contact details and medical history. All potential donors undergo a medical check to ensure that they are in good health to donate blood. During this process, the donor’s blood pressure, pulse rate, haemoglobin level and body weight are measured. Potential donors with a normal blood pressure, haemoglobin above 12g/dl and weight from 42 kg and above will be allowed to proceed to the next phase (counselling). No other medical checks apart from those outlined above are carried out during the process of blood donation. Counselling involves a one on one chat with the nurse about the blood donor’s behaviour. It also allows the blood donors to discuss with the nurse any concerns or fears s/he may have. It is important that all potential blood donors are honest in their responses when completing the donor questionnaire and during counselling. This helps prevent blood donors who may be in the window period for an infectious marker from donating blood. The window period is the period between contracting an infection and the appearance of a detectable marker. Different infections have variable window periods. Tests are available to narrow down this period in comparison to conventional tests. However, for blood safety, it is best that potential donors do not donate at all if they have engaged in risky behaviour.

7. What do I gain in donating blood?
By donating blood, one joins a group of esteemed individuals who are saving lives of fellow human beings. The groups of people in danger of losing their lives if blood is not readily available here in Malawi are: children suffering anaemia, mothers bleeding from complications of pregnancy and child birth; people involved in road traffic accidents and those undergoing surgery. Non monetary milestone awards are offered as a token of appreciation for this noble task. For example, first time donors will be given a blood donation card with the blood donor name, blood group and identity number. A certificate and a badge are offered at 10th and 15th donation. The list is being upgraded in recognition of increasing number of blood donors who have donated for more than 15 times. The major activity of blood donor recognition is during the World Health Organization (WHO) World Blood Donor Day, a worldwide celebration which falls on 14th June every year. This is an auspicious occasion set aside to honour and recognise blood donors for their noble task of saving lives through blood donation.

8. Where does my blood go if I donate it?
Blood is taken to MBTS laboratories where blood is grouped into ABO and RhD groups, and screened for TTI’s. It is also processed into various blood components that are used within hospitals such as platelets, fresh frozen plasma, red blood cell concentrates and cryoprecipitate or it can be used as whole blood.

9. How many times in a year can I donate blood?
Male blood donors donate every three months whilst females every four months.

10. Should I wait for blood drives to donate blood or can I go somewhere to do this?
If you are ready for your first or next donation, you can go to the nearest transfusion centre in Blantyre or Lilongwe and shortly Mzuzu. Alternatively, you can contact MBTS office and you will be advised the area where the next mobile blood donation drive will be near your area. Alternatively, an organized group of potential blood donors e.g. members of a faith community, a comcontact MBTS for a pre-donation motivation talk to be conducted prior to the blood donation clinic. This can be done during week days, and even on Saturdays and Sundays with prior arrangement.

11. Why is it that when people are sick they ask relatives for blood. Doesn’t the MBTS have a blood bank?
Yes, MBTS has a blood bank. However, the amount of blood that MBTS has at each point in time will be determined mostly by how many people are willing to donate blood voluntarily. If few people are willing to donate blood, irrespective of what the hospital demand for blood is, little blood will be available to supply hospitals. Whole blood has a shelf life of 35 days. Platelets have a shelf life of 5 days. Other products like cryoprecipitate and fresh frozen plasma can be kept for a year or more. It is therefore important that people donate regularly and not just as a once off action to ensure that there is enough blood in the blood banks throughout the year. The current arrangement is that MBTS conducts the blood donation drives and processes blood prior to issuing to authorised hospitals in the country. Blood and blood products are made available to the hospitals through a 24 hour hotline. MBTS plans to supply all hospitals with safe blood. This is however not always possible due to the high demand for blood and blood products which at times exceeds MBTS stocks. MBTS therefore appeals to all individuals to come and donate blood, and if not eligible they can encourage their friends and relatives to donate blood so that the system of requesting relatives to donate blood can be stopped. Please note that some hospitals in the country already practice this system whereby all blood that is used is from MBTS and there is no need for guardians to provide blood.

12. Who does the blood bank supply?
Currently, MBTS has contacts with over 70 hospitals country wide. These include government, CHAM and private hospitals.

13. Any additional information, other information including contact details that we will add in the piece
Anyone can donate blood at the Static clinics i.e. The O’dala centre in Blantyre and Lilongwe Centre during the week all year round. They can also donate blood on Saturdays from 8.00 a.m. to 1.00 p.m., during school holidays. Alternatively, any group of people can organize themselves or their communities and contact the MBTS to come for a blood donation drive right there in their community. It is estimated that the country needs 80,000 whole blood donations per annum. This means that Malawi needs only 80,000 kind-hearted people to donate blood once a year or 40,000 kind people to donate blood twice a year. On behalf of the mothers and children, who are the major beneficiaries of blood transfusions in the country, I appeal to the 13 million of us in Malawi to not allow lives to be lost due to lack of blood. Please do not leave it to the next person to donate blood. You can donate. You can organise your church, mosque, your workmates, and your group to donate blood. You can save a life. Surely together we can do it!! For more information, visit the nearest blood transfusion centre mentioned earlier or contact:

The MBTS,
Public Relations Office in Blantyre
Tel: 01 872 650/01 870 522, fax 01 870 770 or email: mbtsinfo@mbtsmalawi.com