An acute shortage of blood has hit health facilities in Kilifi County putting at risk the lives of patients requiring urgent blood transfusion.
So severe is the shortage that an expectant woman who had bled profusely lost her life at Kilifi Referral hospital Labour ward on Saturday after failing to receive blood.
The Kilifi County Executive Member for Health, Charles Dadu Karisa on the other hand urged leaders to lead by example by availing themselves at either Kilifi or Malindi referral hospitals to donate blood.
He said the two referral hospitals have run short of blood adding, “Kilifi and Malindi referral hospitals are situated in areas where there is need to maintain blood stocks at all times considering that they are situated on highways. Accident victims along the Garrisa- Hola –Kilifi to Mombasa highway are often brought to the facilities where they seek urgent blood transfusion,” Karisa noted.
And on a positive note, the appeal got immediate support from Kilifi South Member of Parliament Kenneth Chonga who turned up at Kilifi County referral hospital and donated a pint of blood.
Speaking to the press moments later Chonga said he was moved on learning that an expectant mother had lost her life the previous day due to a biting blood shortage at the health institutions.
He appealed to the public to visit the referral hospitals to donate blood to prevent loss of lives.
“As a County, there is need for us to unite and support those who may be seriously sick. COVID 19 is also here with us hence the need to follow guidelines given by the ministry of health,” Chonga added.
During the event at the hospital, a few of his supporters also volunteered to donate blood but the number could not be immediately disclosed by health workers.
By Harrison Yeri
