Homa Bay residents urged to donate blood to prevent maternal mortality

Dr Amos Dulo (centre) during blood donation Homa Bay blood donation drive. [James Omoro, Standard]

Homa Bay residents have been urged to donate blood to augment the fight against maternal mortality.

Lack of blood is a serious issue that affects many health facilities in Kenya.

According to Homa Bay Chief Officer for Health Kevin Osuri, many cases of maternal mortality are caused by lack of enough blood in the body during delivery.

In case an expectant mother who is delivering becomes anemic during delivery in a health facility that lacks blood, such a mother is likely to die easily.

Dr Osuri spoke at Homa Bay County Referral Hospital during a celebration to mark the recognition of Homa Bay County blood bank as the most improved in Kenya, according to the Kenya Blood Banking Management System also known as Damu KE.

The Chief Officer said blood is very significant in supporting human health.

“Many cases of maternal mortality result from lack of blood. We always strive to ensure blood is available in our health facilities to prevent such deaths,” Dr Osuri said.

Osuri hailed the milestones that the health department had made in improving blood donation in the county since early last year.

Their main sources of blood are learning institutions. The other sources include churches, individuals who volunteer to and the people who donate blood for replacement when their kin are hospitalised.

“We intensified our efforts in blood donation when we came to office and this gave us the recognization as the best-improved blood bank in the last one year by Damu Ke,” Osuri said.

Osuri who was accompanied by Homa Bay Teaching and Referral Hospital CEO Stephen Stephen Okello, told residents to continue donating blood to enhance the constant supply of blood in the county’s health facilities.

“I acknowledge the efforts of our people and the county staff put in blood donation. I urge our people to continue in that spirit to enable us to maintain the availability of blood in our blood bank,” Osuri said.

The Chief Officer demystified the belief that blood is bought or manufactured.

“Let our people know that blood is given free of charge and the source of blood is a human being who donates it. Therefore, let us continue to donate blood,” Osuri said.