To avail a unit of blood and make it safe for transfusion cost at least Sh8,000.
Rift Valley Regional Blood Transfusion Centre Director Nick Kiptanui said that the increased cost in the screening process might force them to sell the blood at a future date.
Kiptanui said that the centre needs at least 2,000 pints of blood every month to satisfy its needs.
“Many of the donors are already pulling away and we hope that the county and the National government to support the whole process. Even the number of my staff has greatly reduced,” he added.
He was speaking at an exclusive interview on Saturday where he revealed that the centre served eight different counties.
“We serve up to Mararal, Narok and Transmara counties,” he added.
He cited that the center had been greatly affected by the recent teachers strike.
“We have been meeting our targets but it is now becoming expensive to get the blood. We target high schools and universities for blood too,” he added.
Kiptanui denied claims that the centre sold blood.
“We do not sell any blood. We distribute it for free to the health facilities. When you go to private hospitals you are charged up to Sh2,000. There are some hospitals which charge as much as Sh5,000” he cited.