Strike ‘lowers blood donation’

By Rushdie Oudia

Kisumu, Kenya: The 21-day teachers strike has affected stock in blood banks across the country.

The Kenya Red Cross Society Sunday raised a red flag over the blood situation in the country.

West Kenya Region Blood Donor Recruiter, Fred Orimba said the stock reduced considering that secondary school and college students contribute 90 per cent of the blood stock.

Orimba challenged all Kenyans to come out and donate blood so as to help increase stock.

“The situation is alarming and stocks are far below the demand,” said Orimba.

Red Cross is in partnership with the National Blood Transfusion Services to mobilise donors following the decrease.

He said with accidents occurring at an alarming rate, there was increased demand for blood in hospitals. He gave an example of the Kisii accident victims who are in need of blood.

The situation is also likely to be worsened by the closure of schools for the holidays.

The society has therefore organised a blood donor tournament where a participating team has to donate blood by way of registration prior to participating in the games.

The initiative rolled out in Kisumu had 11 teams donate at least 20 units of blood each before being registered.