Garissa residents together with their elected leaders on Friday turned up at the Garissa County Referral Hospital to donate blood following reports of biting shortage at the facility's blood banks.

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In an exercise dubbed 'Blood For Us By Us' at least 120 locals volunteered for the noble cause. 

Speaking during the event, Fafi Member of Parliament Abdikadir Osman appealed to locals of goodwill to come out and participate in the exercise, to help patients in need of blood transfusions.

"I appeal the residents from across the county who are blessed with good health to come and donate blood as it is one if the best forms of charity," MP Abdikadir said.

His sentiments were reiterated by County Executive Committee member (CECM) for Health Ahmednadhir Omar who emphasized the need to have a good stock of blood for emergency cases.

"We ask all our community members to show compassion to the needy patients under our care by occasionally volunteering to donate blood," said Ahmednadhir.

Being the biggest health facilty in the North Eastern region, the county hospital serves patients from Mandera, Wajir, Tana River and as far as Somalia.