Mombasa leaders make appeal for blood donation

MOMBASA, KENYA: Mombasa County has issued an emergency call for blood donation after it emerged that Coast General Hospital only has blood reserves to last a day.

Mombasa County health officials revealed on Friday that the county and the region faces a shortage of blood with only 100 pints available at Coast General’s blood bank.

 County Health Executive Binti Omar said that, cumulatively, the region’s 42 hospitals, including 22 in Mombasa County, require 80 to 100 units of blood per day.

Addressing a blood donation drive in Mombasa, the executive said there is need for constant replenishing of blood reserves in the region.

 Omar said the region needs to raise at least 23,000 units of blood in a year if it is to sustain its coffers for emergencies.

FEW DONORS

Mombasa County statistics show that only 12,000 people are donating blood in a region of about 3.5 million people. This means that only 0.5 per cent of the population has responded to the blood donation call.

 “Our target is to raise about 2,000 pints of blood since we are aware that the Ramadhan season is about to set in which will lower the donation rate,” Omar said.

Local leaders who had come out to support the drive urged residents to be frequent donors and not to wait until there is an emergency.

The leaders who took time to donate blood said the area needs to have enough blood in its banks considering the region has had several threats of terror attacks.

“We urge Coast residents to donate blood to boost our reserves. As you know, this region has had several security scares and attacks. We must plan for eventualities in order to save lives,” Rabai MP William Kamoti said.

His sentiments were echoed by Nyali MP Awiti Bollo who said terror threats are real and blood banks should be full at all times.

He urged the youth to turn up in large numbers and participate in blood donations.

 Mombasa Woman Representative Mishi Mboko said pregnant mothers are the most affected in the society from frequent blood shortage since they lose a lot of blood during child birth.

 “Our women are really feeling the burden of blood shortage, especially pregnant mothers who lose a lot of blood during child birth,” she said.

Jomvu MP Bady Twalib urged county governments to establish special centres where blood can be donated, including enabling dispensaries to have there own blood reserves.