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Charlene Ruto has vowed to knock on the door of universities, schools and other learning institutions to boost the blood donation drive for the country.
Her push is to save the lives of individuals in emergencies, mothers in delivery wards and all Kenyans in general.
“Blood donation is one of the areas I champion and I do it from my heart,” said Charlene, as she was unveiled as Kenya’s blood ambassador.
“We are going to go to the universities, high schools and different institutions because as young people, if we do not lead this course, then it is going to fail”
The First Daughter was unveiled alongside three other blood ambassadors namely Kennedy Sanya, the highest blood donor in Kenya, Aisha Daffalla, Kenya’s Top Female Blood Donor and Caroline Wang’amati, Coalition of Blood for Africa team lead.
Charlene is the current Patron of Kenyan by Blood Foundation.
She said her strength as a blood ambassador is to attract youth to donate blood.
- Kenya needs 500,000 pints of blood to save lives
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“The strength I bring to the table is my capacity with young people of Kenya, and not just Kenya but of Africa.
She added, “We (youth) are 70 per cent of the population and our mean age is about 19.5 these are the same people I will be calling out”.
According to her, if youths donate blood, at least 70 per cent of the country’s target will be achieved.
The first daughter said previously, that she has been donating blood whenever she saw a rally call for blood or someone in need of her blood group.
“I have been donating blood to strangers, people whom I do not know, just because I saw a rallying call on WhatsApp,” she said.
But to boost supply, she pleaded with Kenyans to be regular donors.
With more donors, she said Kenya is in a position to meet the target of 300,000 pints of blood by June, blood that will save lives in times of emergencies.
Data by Kenya Blood Transfusion and Transplant Service (TBTTS) reveals that Kenya requires 500,000 pints to save lives every year.
“As Kenyans, if we take it (blood donation) personally we shall save lives. Imagine one day you are in a situation that needs blood, or your family member needs blood, then we shall b donating more blood because we keep looking for blood issues on referral or somebody we do not know,” said the blood ambassador.
Further, she encouraged youth to live healthy lifestyles, as a key element in the blood donation drive.
“I know we have our fears getting to know our status but as young people, if we live healthy styles, we can save the lives of our brother, our mother, or young child somewhere,” she added.
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