By Okong’o Oduya
Busia County is struggling with a serious shortage of blood in its health facilities.
The shortage of blood has led to an appeal to Busia residents donate blood and save lives of many who are in need of blood transfusion in several health institutions across the County.
According to Kenya National Blood Transfusion Service Busia Satellite manager, Mr. David Bulimu , the center currently only has 12 pints of blood which is under pressure of getting used up any minute.
In a briefing with media at the Transfusion Centre, Mr. Bulimu noted that the neighboring transfusion centers including Kakamega, Kisumu, Bungoma and Eldoret which most of the time run for aid have run out of blood too.
“We are in a desperate situation right now, we urgently need of blood and we are hoping that well-wishers will visit our facility to donate blood and help save lives. As we are talking we have been forced to transfer 17 patients to other hospitals outside the county who needed the blood transfusion. We still receive many other patients especially those who suffer from anemia, sickle cell, accident victims and mothers who develop complications during delivery .” Bulimu said.
He urged those who are eligible to donate blood to visit the facilities and help boost up the blood bank at the center. He further noted that the blood donation center faces blood shortage, especially during school holidays adding that most hospitals raise blood during school time since high school students help by donating blood, adding that as a result of that the hospital has recorded three deaths caused by lack of blood.
“We lost three people last months due to blood-related ailments. We cannot afford to lose more lives, that is why we are calling upon public to help us raise at least 1000 pints of blood to boost out blood center,” he stated
Bulimo assured the public that the center is open at all times to allow those willing to donate blood easy access. He further noted that the demand for blood on daily basis at the hospital and other neighboring hospitals such as St Mary’s hospital Mumias and other hospitals in Bungoma County is 102 pints.
He further urged Kenyans to donate blood the same way they do during tragedies to save lives.
