County faces acute shortage of blood

Busia County health facilities are suffering from shortage of blood, the officer in charge of the area blood satellite centre Rosemary Okuku has said.
Speaking to the press at the County Referral hospital on Saturday, Okuku said that the facility alone requires over 20pints of blood on a normal working day yet it is very difficult to get even a pint due to the impact of the coronavirus pandemic.
‘The pandemic has caused a lot of fear among the local residents,’ she said adding that they are forced to depend on walk-in donors.
She noted with concern that some patients, including accident victims, expectant mothers and those suffering from sickle cell anaemia risk losing lives due to blood shortage.
“At the moment the situation is very bad because we have depleted our stock,’ she said adding that the facility currently has 10 pints of unscreened blood in store donated by relatives of some patients.
The official appealed to the local residents to come out and donate blood at the satellite facility adding that the Ministry of health guidelines to combat COVID-19 are strictly being adhered to.
Her sentiments were echoed by Busia Governor’s wife Judy Ojaamong who urged residents to unite to prevent deaths that might be caused by blood shortage.
The coronavirus pandemic has led to closure of public institutions like schools and colleges whose students are the majority of blood donors for the satellite centre.
By Salome Alwanda