Turkana County, yesterday, joined the world in commemorating the World Blood Donor Day at an event marked with blood donation at the Lodwar County Referral Hospital.
Senior County Government Officers, led by the County Executive (CEC) for Health, Jane Ajele and CEC for Water, Vincent Palor, graced the event.
The County aimed at collecting 500 pints of blood, to address the shortfall in the Lodwar Satellite Blood Bank.
Ajele said the County needs blood to take care of the rising demand from neighbouring counties, as well as address cases of boda boda accidents and mothers who give birth at the health facilities.
The County collects about 150 pints of blood every month, which is four times less than the needed blood.
Joseph Maina, who has donated blood for 32 times, was celebrated as a blood donor and awarded a certificate by the Ministry for his contribution in saving lives. Maina said donating blood is his way of giving back to the community.
A blood beneficiary, Irene Lolimo, also expressed gratitude to blood donors who continue to save lives by donating blood. Lolimo has started a foundation, to ensure more people donate blood and save lives.
The World Blood Donor Day was set aside to honour, recognize and appreciate people who have been donating blood routinely and consistently.
The Day also aims to convince other people to donate blood. Statistics indicate that 70 percent of 116,000 pints of blood donated last year was donated by new donors.
The theme of this year’s event is ‘donate blood and keep the world beating.’
By Peter Gitonga and Fammy Masiza
