It was a busy day on 20th June 2014 at Crossroads Hotel as there was a capacity building on how to conduct a village blood collection to different stakeholders to take place.How did this come about?Well, as we all know, MamaYe is a movement that aims to improve maternal and newborn survival by engaging the public in maternal and newborn survival through sharing and communication evidence, undertaking advocacy, and encouraging the accountability of all stakeholders involved in maternal and newborn health (MNH).The MamaYe Mchinji and Balaka district teams have conducted three village blood collection campaigns in which 71 units and 284 units were collected in Mchinji and 84 units for Balaka.Collecting this much blood at community level is the first of its kind in Malawi.In meetings with MBTS, the campaign committed to holding capacity building trainings with various stakeholders that are interested in ensuring that Malawi has enough blood to save lives.Following which, MamaYe in collaboration with MBTS and the Reproductive Health Directorate organised a special event to take stakeholders through the various stages that are taken in ensuring successful village blood collection campaigns.The event also provided an opportunity to thank the local leadership and blood donors of Mchinji, share the learning as well as celebrate this huge success story. The success of these campaigns means that:More lives of mothers and children savedProof that village blood campaigns can go a long way in helping with blood shortage in the countryMalawi is on the road to a time when all districts hospitals will have adequate blood in their blood banksPresent were MBTS officials, Reproductive Health Directorate (RHD), Traditional authorities from different districts, donors and representatives of various NGOSs working in maternal health as well as the private sector.It was a successful event as we heard testimonies on blood donating from our two activits, the Mchinji team demonstrated how exactly they have been holding the blood donating exercises, and the MBTS presented the current situation on blood donation in Malawi. The participants thought this was a good event as it has opened opportunities for other districts to follow this type of effort to increase the availability of blood in the districts. Not only were the six districts in the MamaYe campaign present, other districts were present as well, making this initiative going beyond! Big Up MamaYe!!!Visit our Facebook Page for the Photos: Mamaye-Malawi
It was a busy day on 20th June 2014 at Crossroads Hotel as there was a capacity building on how to conduct a village blood collection to different stakeholders to take place.How did this come about?Well, as we all know, MamaYe is a movement that aims to improve maternal and newborn survival by engaging the public in maternal and newborn survival through sharing and communication evidence, undertaking advocacy, and encouraging the accountability of all stakeholders involved in maternal and newborn health (MNH).The MamaYe Mchinji and Balaka district teams have conducted three village blood collection campaigns in which 71 units and 284 units were collected in Mchinji and 84 units for Balaka.Collecting this much blood at community level is the first of its kind in Malawi.In meetings with MBTS, the campaign committed to holding capacity building trainings with various stakeholders that are interested in ensuring that Malawi has enough blood to save lives.Following which, MamaYe in collaboration with MBTS and the Reproductive Health Directorate organised a special event to take stakeholders through the various stages that are taken in ensuring successful village blood collection campaigns.The event also provided an opportunity to thank the local leadership and blood donors of Mchinji, share the learning as well as celebrate this huge success story. The success of these campaigns means that:
- More lives of mothers and children saved
- Proof that village blood campaigns can go a long way in helping with blood shortage in the country
- Malawi is on the road to a time when all districts hospitals will have adequate blood in their blood banks