KENYA: The on-going teacher's strike has occasioned a blood shortage at the Embu Regional Blood Transfusion Centre.
County Health Executive Pauline Njagi said the centre has been unable to collect blood from the students who form the bulk of donors since they are not in schools.
Ms Njagi said the Embu Level Five Hospital, and Kirinyaga and Tharaka-Nithi counties have patients who need blood for transfusion.
Speaking during a free medical camp at Deliverance Church in Embu town, Njagi appealed to the public to donate blood.
"We encourage Kenyans of between ages 16 and 65 to donate blood and help those in need especially cancer patients. We have a child suffering from leukemia who requires blood transfusion," she said.
She also attributed the shortage to inadequate staff at the centre after those who had been employed on short term left at the end of their contracts.
The centre has only three staff members who handle blood transfusion matters making it difficult to organise outreaches for donations.
CANCER SCREENING
County Medical Services Director Philip Masaulo told the public to go for early cancer screening saying early diagnosis helps in better management and treatment of the disease.
Deliverance Church clergy Stephen Njoroge said the camp was part of the church's corporate social responsibility targeting those unable to afford medical services and silently suffering at home.
Njagi lauded efforts by partners in the provision of healthcare services noting that the county government alone cannot manage the sector.
Meanwhile, a section of leaders from Embu and Tharaka-Nithi counties have dismissed a plan by Mt Kenya East elected leaders to dissolve small parties that constitute the Jubilee coalition and join the Jubilee Alliance Party (JAP) in the run up to the 2017 General Election.
Tharaka-Nithi Governor Samuel Ragwa, Embu's Mwariama Council of Elders Chairman Njagi Kumantha and former County Secretary Margaret Kariuki expressed fears that the new development could be for selfish interests.
Mr Ragwa said it was wrong for political leaders to impose a party of their choice on the electorate without consulting them first.
"Leaders should consult the citizens on the party they want to join," he said.