The MamaYe campaign was in Mchinji district where it facilitated community blood mobilization. 71 units were collected and we smile because those are lives saved. But during the campaign, we came across interesting facts that tell us that there is still a lot of work to be done around myths associated with blood donations. This is a story of Mwai...Mwai means good luck. Mwai is about six to seven years old. On this day he goes out his normal business of play-running around the village, deep in the remote areas of Mchinji. He and his friends continue playing, oblivious to what is going on in the village. Wind catches them that they are people collecting blood at the school. “How can that be possible?” they wonder amongst themselves “Let us go check it out” they run to the bleed site.At the bleeding sight, the first sight they see is a number of people lying on beds. Shocked and confused they come close to understand what is going on?On one of the beds, Mwai sees a familiar face. It’s his father. A tube is attached to his arm and blood is flowing into a bag. Mwai is troubled: “Who has done this to my father? What is going on, is he okay? Why is everyone not helping him? Is he going to wake up?” Immediately, the small boy breaks down and starts crying uncontrollably. That’s when he catches my attention. The father finishes donating blood for the first time in his life. We all try to console Mwai. The father assures him that he is fine and that he was just helping out some needy people somewhere. Mwai ends up with a cap on his head. They start off for home but Mwai still confused by the events of the day which I believe will go a long way in his life. I look forward to the next bleed in this village to meet Mwai and find out how he is doing.I know in a couple of years to come he too will be donating blood because his village has embraced saving lives of mothers and children. I am confident, he will be our activist.
The MamaYe campaign was in Mchinji district where it facilitated community blood mobilization. 71 units were collected and we smile because those are lives saved. But during the campaign, we came across interesting facts that tell us that there is still a lot of work to be done around myths associated with blood donations. This is a story of Mwai...Mwai means good luck. Mwai is about six to seven years old. On this day he goes out his normal business of play-running around the village, deep in the remote areas of Mchinji. He and his friends continue playing, oblivious to what is going on in the village. Wind catches them that they are people collecting blood at the school. “How can that be possible?” they wonder amongst themselves “Let us go check it out” they run to the bleed site.At the bleeding sight, the first sight they see is a number of people lying on beds. Shocked and confused they come close to understand what is going on?On one of the beds, Mwai sees a familiar face. It’s his father. A tube is attached to his arm and blood is flowing into a bag. Mwai is troubled: “Who has done this to my father? What is going on, is he okay? Why is everyone not helping him? Is he going to wake up?” Immediately, the small boy breaks down and starts crying uncontrollably. That’s when he catches my attention. The father finishes donating blood for the first time in his life. We all try to console Mwai. The father assures him that he is fine and that he was just helping out some needy people somewhere. Mwai ends up with a cap on his head. They start off for home but Mwai still confused by the events of the day which I believe will go a long way in his life. I look forward to the next bleed in this village to meet Mwai and find out how he is doing.I know in a couple of years to come he too will be donating blood because his village has embraced saving lives of mothers and children. I am confident, he will be our activist.