Homa Bay residents have been urged to donate blood for the adequate supply of the commodity and to enhance the fight against maternal mortality.
Shortage of blood is a serious issue that affects many health facilities not only in Homa Bay but the entire country.
Homa Bay is among the counties in Kenya with a high maternal mortality rate as per the Ministry of Health record.
The statistics indicate that the county has 583 compared to with the national average of 488.
Health Chief Officer Kevin Osuri said many cases of maternal mortality are caused by lack of enough blood in the body during delivery.
In case an expectant mother who is delivering becomes anaemic during delivery in a health facility that lacks blood, such a mother is likely to die easily.
“Homa Bay government is appealing to residents to continue donating blood to save the lives of those in dire need. Adequate blood will help us reduce maternal deaths,” Osuri said.
Speaking on Friday at Homa Bay County Referral Hospital, Osuri said blood is very significant in supporting human health.
He spoke during a celebration to mark the recognition of Homa Bay County Blood Bank as the most improved in Kenya
The county was recognised by the Kenya Blood Banking Management System also known as Damu KE.
“Many cases of maternal mortality result from lack of blood. We always strive to ensure blood is available in our health facilities to prevent such deaths,” Osuri said.
Osuri hailed the milestones which the health department had made in improving blood donation in the county since early last year.
Their main sources of blood are learning institutions.
The other sources include churches, individuals who volunteer and the people who donate blood for replacement when their kin are hospitalised.
“Continuous campaigns about blood donation enabled us to get recognized as the best-improved blood bank in the last year by Damu Ke,” he said
In the company of Homa Bay Teaching and Referral Hospital CEO Stephen Stephen Okello, the chief officer urged residents to continue donating blood to enhance the constant supply of blood in the county’s health facilities.
“I acknowledge the efforts of our people and the county staff put in blood donation. I urge our people to continue in that spirit to enable us to maintain the availability of blood in our blood bank,” Osuri said.
They demystified the belief that blood is bought or manufactured.
“It should be known that blood is given free of charge and the source of blood is a human being who donates it. Let us continue to donate blood,” he added.