Appeal for healthy residents to donate blood
Kenya National Blood Transfusion Services has urged eligible residents of Bungoma county to donate blood.
According to Moses Mwetaya (pictured), who is in charge of Kenya National Blood Transfusion Services in the county, sickle cell anaemia patients consume 30 per cent of donated blood.
“We have many blood donation centres in the region or that volunteering can visit Bungoma County Referral Hospital and donate blood that will later save a life,” he said.
He was speaking at Bumula Sub-County Hospital on Wednesday during a blood donation drive organised by youth from Emerging Elders Foundation to mark Youth Service Week.
He cited Kanduyi, Kabuchai and Bumula as areas that register high numbers of sickle cell patients, adding that donating just one unit of blood is very crucial, as it can save many lives.
He said besides sickle cell patients, accident victims, pregnant women malaria patients and those undergoing surgery at times require life-saving transfusion.
“We do not just pick people randomly to donate blood. There is a procedure that a donor follows and if they qualify they are given a chance to donate,” he said.
He lauded Emerging Leaders Foundation for organising the drive, asking residents to disregard false information that those who donate blood are likely to die or develop health complications.
Brian Seli, the foundation’s coordinator, said they organised the donation drive to ensure timely access to safe and sufficient supplies of blood.
