Malawian scares away Africa’s vampires
Belita James, (40), was about to be taken to the theatre but the doctors had to think twice. Since she had less blood in body, the operation could have cost her life.
“Though doctors had asked my relatives to arrange blood but none was willing to help,” recalls James.
James had swelling in uterus that had to be removed to avoid further loss of blood, advised her surgeons.
“I could actually tell from the look on their faces that they were hesitating to operate me because there was no blood to transfuse afterwards,” she says.
Her face turns pale as she recalls, “I thought this was the best time to say my last prayers for me to die peacefully.”
Seeing wife’s death imminent, her husband deserted James.
She represents one of the many needy Malawians whose life hinges on generosity of blood donors. Like many other African nations, the country has blood banks but without the lifesaving fluid.
Safe and adequate supply of blood and its products have always been in short supply in cities, let alone rural areas.
Religious beliefs, cultural norms and mal-nutrition in general make collection of clean and healthy blood an uphill task. Relatives of patients requiring blood transfusion have to scout well-wishers.
“One day our principal told us there was an urgent need for blood to be given to a woman named Belita awaiting an operation,” recalls 46-year-old Steven Kumwamba, who was then Phalombe Secondary School student.
The Malawian villager, who gave his first blood donation in 1987, later developed a passion to share his blood. His first recipient, James Belita, lives a normal life and works as a housemaid in Blantyre City.
Multiple blood donors are rare. The country is rife with stories of vampires attacking loners at night in Chilobwe Township. The 70-era horror fiction remains popular amongst the local in the 21st century as well.
For family of James and dozens others, Kumwamba is no less legendary than a Greek warrior god. In conformist society of Malawi, he has donated blood for over 90 times. He shunned suspecting compatriots that his blood may be used for other purposes. Sale of donated blood is common knowledge, normally wasted in rituals.
Kumwamba hails from a lomwe tribe. a tribe which is normally associated with being free with people and always business minded. They are always willing to help regardless of the other's tribe. Berita James, the first recipient of his blood, is originally from the northern region and of Tumbuka tribe, a people unwilling to help an outsider. Had it been that Kumwamba was the one in need, James would have been discouraged to donate blood for not hailing from the same tribe.
“I felt good when I got the news that she underwent a successful operation and regained her strength,” he says.
When he completed his secondary school education, Kumwamba joined the Central Government Stores as clerk. His life changed a lot but not his habit of saving endangered lives.
“It became a routine practice to donate blood. Through the Malawi Red Cross, I used to do so in the Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital,” says Kumwamba, who get no benefit from his noble act except self-satisfaction.
With a population of 13 million, Malawi is multi-religious society with Christians and Muslims in larger numbers while Buddhists and Rastas are in minority. During one-party rule stretching from 1964 to 1994, Muslims and people from the northern region were sidelined until Dr Bakili Muluzi, the first Muslim democratic president, took over.
For their belief in traditional medicine and rituals, donating blood is generally a taboo.
So far he has conveyed to thousands of Malawians that the process of donating blood is easy and nothing changes in one’s body.
“There is no special food required for a blood donor. I eat any kind of food that comes my way, affordable one, which even someone living in the village can have,” he explains with the confidence of a doctor.
“My secret for this is a positive attitude towards blood donation and abstinence. If I didn’t take good care of my life, I wouldn’t have donated blood this much,” he says.
The blood donor, who is not married but has a son, further notes that people do not like to donate blood because of beliefs and forget that their relatives would one day urgently need blood.
There can be various reasons leading to acute anemia such as accidents and Malaria. Expectant mothers also need blood especially those delivering through Caesarian section.
Kumwamba says he also donated blood to Saint John’s Ambulance Hospital where his aunt was working when he went to Bulawayo in Zimbabwe for vacations.
“When I went to Botswana, I kept my tradition there as well,” he proudly said.
Normally, he doesn't follow up on the names of blood recipients. However, he refused to share some for reasons of privacy.
Allen Kaombe, Public Relations Officer for Malawi Blood Transfusion Service, confirms that Kumwamba is a regular blood donor.
“Though the country has about 100,000 registered blood donors, only a few of these donate blood regularly,” Kaombe regrets.
He explains that blood donors should be physically fit, sexually responsible and between 16 and 65 years with a minimum body mass of 42 kilograms.
“A normal human being has five liters of blood and once a donation (amounting approximately 450 mills or approximately two tea cups) is given, the fluid volume begins to be restored immediately and reaches the required level in hours,” Kaombe says, adding that males can donate blood after every three month and females after four.
Kaombe has his reasons for optimism. “Now hospitals to collect blood from the Red Cross every day which is transfused to patients regardless of their race, religions and cultural values.”
The World Health Organization (WHO) statistics of 2005 indicate that 82 per cent of the world population still suffers from lack of satisfactory and safe blood.
The report notes that only 40 countries had set up voluntary blood donation systems, less than 30 per cent countries across the world had nationwide blood donation or patient`s family members sacrificed to donate blood.
Despite awareness raised by Malawi Red Cross and legend like the demand-supply gap is still huge in the country. Hospitals need about 80,000 units of blood every year but only manage to collect about 42,000 units.
Kumwamba and his dozens of beneficiary families may quietly take their country’s hospital to self-sufficiency in live-saving fluid but African needs hundred of such legends to save precious lives.
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