Brazzaville – Mavie Ndama is a phlebotomist on the Nationwide Blood Transfusion Centre in Brazzaville, the Republic of the Congo. She has spent years working at blood donation drives and transfusion stations, drawing blood from numerous donors. But, regardless of her very important position within the blood donation course of, she had by no means discovered the braveness to donate blood herself.
Mavie’s position is to attract blood from donors who go to the centre or take part in blood drives organized by the centre. “We are sometimes used to taking samples from donors who come to us,” she says. “I by no means thought I might be on the opposite aspect of the needle. The thought of getting a big needle pierce my pores and skin was daunting.”
Throughout a current blood donation drive to commemorate this yr’s World Blood Donation Day, Mavie determined to confront her concern. The importance of the day, coupled along with her understanding of the life-saving impression of blood donations, impressed her to make the leap. “I made a decision to donate blood as a result of I do know it means saving a life,” she says. “That is why I selected to make this donation to avoid wasting not less than one life for the primary time.”
As Mavie ready to donate, she felt a mixture of nervousness and dedication. “I believed it was going to be tough and painful, being the donor this time and never the well being skilled drawing blood,” she says. Nevertheless, because the process started, she was impressed by how seamless and painless it was. “I am nonetheless stunned I used to be in a position to undergo with it with none ache. I’m undoubtedly doing this once more as a result of I really feel so fulfilled.”
Reflecting on her expertise, Mavie feels a profound sense of accomplishment and urges others to do the identical. “I encourage everybody, particularly younger folks like me, to make it a behavior to donate blood,” she says. “It could be very uncomfortable the primary time, however it’s price it once you decide to donating, realizing very nicely that it’s going to save a life.”