Airtel Tanzania staff join blood donation drive

16Jun 2023
The Guardian Reporter
Business
The Guardian
Airtel Tanzania staff join blood donation drive

Airtel Tanzania has today partnered with the National Blood Transfusion Service (NBTS) to promote blood donation being part of the company’s staff Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative.

This year’s theme of the day is “Give blood, give plasma, share life, share often” which underlines the role every single person can play, by giving this valuable gift of blood or plasma. 

Speaking in Dar es Salaam during the blood donation exercise, Airtel Tanzania Director of Human Resources Stella Kibacha said that donating blood is an important gesture in supporting our communities. We understand that Blood is needed in hospitals by our Mothers with complications during pregnancy and childbirth, children with severe anemia often resulting from diseases such as malaria, victims of accidents, and cancer patients. 

“It is for that reason that as a practice Airtel employees set time every year to do this noble exercise by donating blood to the blood bank(NBTS). The blood donation exercise reflects Airtel’s strong community values in promoting good health and well-being in the country. We synthetize those able to donate blood to do so and help save a life, there are people out there under medical care in need of a pint of blood , be a reason for someone to survive by donating blood today for a better tomorrow,”  added Kibacha. 

According to the NBTS Blood Donor Recruiter Eastern Zone, FatmaMajungu said “Tanzania blood bank needs 600,000 units of blood per year for medical and emergency services, but NBTS last year collected only 65 percent of the blood required to save lives. 

Fatma said “Availability of safe blood is still a challenge in Tanzania, it has been reported that 30% of maternal deaths are associated with unavailability of safe blood. ln addition, children under five years of age and victims of accidents die due to unavailability of safe blood and blood components. According to the 2019/2020 blood collection report, only 60% of the collected blood was from voluntary Non-Remunerated Blood Donors (VNRBDS)' Among those VNRBDs, only 8% donate blood regularly(donating two times or more each year) while the remaining group donates only once and do not come back for donation”. 

“I take this opportunity to congratulate all Tanzanians and Airtel employees who have turned up for this important exercise this year and appeal to them to make it a regular habit so that we can continue saving lives," Insisted Fatma. 

Every year, World Blood Donor Day is celebrated on June 14 all around the world. This day was first observed in 2005 and serves to recognize the need for safe blood and blood products. It is also celebrated to appreciate the blood donors for their voluntary, life-saving gifts. 

The day is part of the WHO’s global public health campaigns.

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