Apathy among adults towards donating blood has resulted in shortage of blood in the country, the Director Kenya National Blood Transfusion Service (KNBTS), Dr Margaret Oduor has said.
Oduor said despite the fact that adults are the highest recipients of blood, most of them shun from giving blood, attributing the problem to poor blood donation culture and lack of enough awareness.
Speaking in Kikuyu town on Wednesdat where they conducted a blood collection exercise, the director attested that last year they collected 186, 000 units of blood against a national requirement of 400, 000 units.
She said KNBTS usually collects about 50 percent of blood which they distribute to various hospitals while some hospitals complement the exercise by collecting about 30 percent of blood leaving a deficit of 20 percent.
“With this shortage, there is need to create a culture of voluntary blood donation through constant engagement with adult donors through information, education and information,” noted the doctor.
Oduor divulged that in the country, two out of every three units of blood are transfused to mothers and children saying the leading cause of maternal mortality are bleeding just before or after childbirth or due to a miscarriage.
“The demand for blood and blood products is on the rise owing to the sporadic terror attacks, road traffic injuries, cancer cases and anaemia occasioned by malaria and other medical conditions,” stated the director.
She reiterated that KNBTS have embarked in a nationwide blood donation campaign targeting adult donors in attempt to mitigate the current scenario in an effort to offer Kenyans more secure treatment and to save lives.
Speaking on the same occasion, the KNBTS corporate affairs manager, Mr Joseph Kamotho said the campaign commenced three months ago in Nyeri County and will cover 11 counties by end of 2015 saying this is on a pilot basis and alter will be rolled out to the other counties.
“It is envisaged that at the end of this campaign in the month of December 2015, KNBTS will have collected a total of 150, 000 units of blood,” said Kamotho.
He highlighted that they will be visiting counties including Embu, Kirinyaga, Nyandarua, Uasin Gishu, Kajiado, Lakipia and Nairobi to collect blood urging adults to volunteer themselves to donate blood.