Help save a life, blood donation drive launched
The ministry of Health in collaboration with partners has rolled out a six-day blood donation drive to mark this year’s World Blood Donor Day.
World Blood Donor Day, an occasion observed on June 14 every year, aims to create awareness across the world about the need for safe blood and life-saving components of blood required for transfusion.
Safe blood and blood products are critical to the public healthcare system of countries globally, according to the World Health Organization.
In Kenya, the ministry of Health in collaboration with the Kenya National Blood Transfusion Service and partners has opened blood donation centers at the Kenyatta National Hospital, Mama Lucy Hospital, Uhuru Park and at the August 7th Memorial park in Nairobi.
Further, Kenyans can donate blood from various centres spread across Embu, Kisumu, Machakos, Mombasa, Nakuru and Eldoret regions.
The Ministry of Health says the blood drive will close on Saturday, June 19.
A person is expected to donate only one unit of blood, which is approximately 450ml.
On average, a healthy adult person has between 10 and 12 pints of blood and the body continuously regenerates any blood lost.
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As a donor, one undergoes some basic screening, and some conditions such as anemia, hypertension may be detected early for further management and treatment.
Blood-borne infections such as HIV, Hepatitis B and C can also be detected too.
According to the WHO, the World Blood Donor Day, also provides an opportunity to call to action to the government and national health authorities to provide adequate resources and put into place systems and infrastructures to increase the collection of blood from voluntary, non-remunerated blood donors.
This year, the World Blood Donor Day slogan “give blood and keep the world beating” is to reinforce the global call for more people all over the world to donate blood regularly contributing to better health.
Every year, different countries host the World Blood Donor Day and this year the event is to be hosted in Rome, Italy.
