Thika and Kiambu County residents in general have been asked to voluntarily and regularly donate blood to the newly set up blood unit at Thika Level Five Hospital.
Speaking at her office on Wednesday, Thika Level Five Hospital Chief Nursing Officer Rosemary Mwangi said that this would bolster blood supply at the facility during emergencies.
"I know there are many residents who do not know that we have a comprehensive blood unit here where they can donate blood voluntarily," said Mwangi.
"This is very important as the blood will go towards alleviating the suffering of patients during emergencies, who before had to wait for long whenever there was need for blood transfusion. Some patients even ended up losing their lives." she said.
She noted that the hospital had partnered with various faith-based and private hospitals in the county to provide them with blood upon request and, therefore, the need to ensure that the blood unit was well stocked.
Mwangi further noted that the hospital was ensuring that best practices in blood donation, storage and transfusion were being observed.
"The quality of our blood safety and donation programme is of great importance and we are operating under the highest standards possible," the nurse said.