AIRTEL DONATES BLOOD TO SUPPORT CHILDREN WITH CANCER AT MUHIMBILI AND OCEAN ROAD HOSPITALS

Diocles Kaimukilwa, a physician from the National Blood Transfusion Service (left) collecting blood from Mohammed Gulamali, Airtel staff in Dar es Salaam today. Airtel Tanzania organized a one day blood donation drive to support children with cancer at the Muhimbili National Hospital and Ocean Road Hospital, as part of company’s Corporate Social Responsibility initiative.

Judith Charle, a physician from the National Blood Transfusion Service (left) collecting blood from Mariam Mfinanga, Airtel staff in Dar es Salaam today.

Diocles Kaimukilwa, a physician from the National Blood Transfusion Service (left) collecting blood from Mohammed Gulamali, Airtel staff in Dar es Salaam today.

Airtel Tanzania, wide coverage mobile provider with the most affordable and reliable mobile services, has organized a blood donation drive to support children with cancer, as part of company’s Corporate Social Responsibility initiative.

Announcing the initiative, Airtel Tanzania’s Human Resources Director, Perece Kirigiti said that the company is keen on playing an active role in social responsibility, and does so this time by involving its staff donating blood to children with cancer at Muhimbili National Hospital and Ocean Road Hospital in Dar es Salaam.

“We will have this donation exercise the whole of Friday this week at our office headquarters in Dar es Salaam whereby six physicians from the National Blood Transfusion Service will conduct the exercise of blood collection from Airtel staff and any other visiting donors, for children in Muhimbili hospital and Ocean road Hospital”, she said.

Moreover, she added: “most of our staffs will be very happy to see that their blood saves the life of a child in the country. Personally, I am a dedicated supporter on this, as through these initiatives, we all participate in the lives of people who need our support. The same goes without forgetting that this is our responsibility as community member.”

Tunu Kavishe, Corporate Social Responsibility Manager of Airtel Tanzania, commenting on the initiative said: “By organizing events like this, is just another effort to make our employee and other stakeholders at large realize their responsibility towards the community. This year our call for the exercise is save a Life ”.

The entire process takes about 30 minutes. It includes filling out some forms, a confidential interview and a health check. The actual collection of blood takes about 10 minutes - around 450 ml; which can possibly save more than one life.

In his statement ahead of the World Blood Donor Day (WBDD) for this year, the Minister for Health and Social Welfare, Dr Hadji Mponda, recently said that collection of blood had gone up from 52,000 bottles in 2005 to 160,000 bottles last year, with the target for this year being 180,000 bottles

At national level, the demand stands at 350,000 and 400,000 bottles annually, which reflects a huge deficit, hence leaving many people at the risk of dying for shortage of blood.

In relation to Airtel’s initiative, which aims at promoting voluntary blood donation, Tanzania launched the National Safe Blood Transfusion Strategy (NSBTS) in 2004, which had so far registered many achievements.
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