Students and staff at Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT) Main Campus Juja, donated over 200 pints of blood in a drive that ended on Friday.
The event jointly organised by Bloodlink Foundation, Kenya Blood Transfusion Center and JKUAT Red Cross Chapter, was the second this year. The drive is aimed at restocking Kenya’s blood banks for effective response in times of disaster and emergency.
Hillary Asiyo, one of the mobilisers was glad and praised the student community for responding to the call to donate blood; a practice that has defined the university’s Red Cross Chapter calendar for years.
“Donating blood gives another chance at life without harming the donor. We are grateful to students and staff who have participated in this noble cause,” Asiyo said.
Muli Myra, a final year food science student and a regular donor challenged fellow students to come out in the subsequent drives to donate blood and assist those in need.
“We never know who will need blood next. It could be you, a sister, a parent or a relative,” Myra said.
The key factors to consider in order to donate blood includes to be 16 years and above. Blood can be donated at medical facilities across the country or at Kenya Blood Transfusion Centers. A unit of blood is usually used to save more than one life. Males and females can donate every three and four months respectively if they are in good health.