State should address blood shortage crisis
It is no longer a matter of speculation, but a fact that the country is facing a blood shortage. The heart-wrenching tales and pleas of patients and families that have waited for hours and days at hospitals for blood transfusion tell the magnitude of the crisis that further compounds the myriad of woes ailing the health sector.
This is a perfect opportunity for the vulture-like individuals to cash in on the misery of those in need of this life-sustaining liquid to mint money.
These cartels working with their hirelings at the Kenya National Blood Transfusion Service are making a killing—and endangering lives—in this evil business!
A pint of blood is reportedly going for between Sh6,000 and Sh17,000 depending on the urgency of the case.
Already, the health sector is overwhelmed. From the coronavirus threat, cancer, malaria, tuberculosis, HIV/Aids and cholera, the facilities and professional are stretched because of resource constraints and policy gaps.
This is why the blood crisis must not be allowed to persist. The crisis could also undo gains made in curbing the HIV/Aids, if the safety of the blood is not guaranteed in the urgency to save lives.
According to the World Health Organisation, Kenya requires a million units annually, but this has never been achieved.
For instance, in 2018/19 year, only 164 units were collected, tested, processed and distributed by the national blood bank. There are other worrying trends: the country, which should harvest 3,000 units per day to satisfy demand, only gets 1,000 units.
The blood transfusion agency was almost crippled by the abrupt cut in funding from the US government President’s Emergency Plan for Aids Relief, which was catering for 80 per cent of its operations and services, including blood banking and safety, personnel and outreach.
As the crisis dawns, albeit belatedly, on the government, it must be an urgent call to action.
First, Kenya must wean itself of the donor-dependency syndrome in provision of essential services such as health to the public.
It must also make the blood agency autonomous to ensure it is well-resourced to function effectively.
Second, the State must roll out a sustained public education programme to debunk some of the myths and fears that hinder citizens from freely donating blood.
Finally, it’s time all closed ranks and confronted this crisis that threatens the lives of many.
