Busia County coordinator of blood transfusion services Anne Kiragu has asked the local residents to embrace the culture of blood donation with a view to save lives.
Addressing the press during the celebrations to mark the World blood donation day at Busia Polytechnic ground on Wednesday, Ms Kiragu noted that the community has not understood the need to donate blood.
“We have been relying on schools and other learning institutions to provide blood,” she said, adding that there was a need to sensitize the community to participate in the exercise.
Ms Kiragu explained that the blood is required in assisting cases of sickle cell and malaria patients which are rampant in the County.
“There are also cases of accidents, especially boda boda riders which also require blood,” she said.
She explained that blood donation is very healthy because it makes the bone marrow of the donors’ work better adding that it also reduces one’s chances of getting cancer disease.
“Blood donation also helps one to know his/her status because we carry out tests,” she said, adding that the process helps the donors to know their health status early.
The officer refuted allegations that blood is sold to patients, explaining that the organisation issues blood free of charge.
She at the same time dismissed myths by a section of residents that blood donated is used for devil worship.
The Busia blood satellite manager Nkule Samuel said that they have enough blood in the county currently with patients who are in the hospital being beneficiaries of the blood.
“’If you come to our hospital, Busia county referral hospital, we have patients who are going for surgery and they all need the blood,” he said.
By Jael Nambanga
