The Mountain Journal
Blood collection centres have been set up in all the counties in efforts to ensure availability in times of need.
Health Cabinet Secretary Ms Susan Nakhumicha detailed that the move to increase the centres in the 47 counties, has brought service close to the communities.
She spoke at Murang’a Level Five Hospital during the commissioning of a blood collection Centre that coincided with World Blood Donation Day.
“The Murang’a Satellite centre will serve the nearby health facilities in the county and beyond,” said the CS accompanied by the local Governor Irungu Kang’ata.
She observed that regular blood donations will ensure individuals and communities have access to affordable and timely supply of safe and quality assured blood.
“Availability and accessibility of safe blood and blood products is crucial in saving lives and attaining universal health coverage.The ministry of health has made remarkable progress in reorganization of blood collection services through an inter-governmental framework on coordination of blood transfusion services,” she said.
He added that the government has revolutionized the way blood is collected and distributed across the nation.
“ The reorganization of blood collection services has resulted in a significant increase of blood donation rising from about 130, 000 to more than 348, 000 units,’ she observed.
She hinted that in the next financial year, through the stakeholders’ support they have designed to achieve the World Health Organization’s target of one percent of the population voluntarily donating blood annually.
The governor said his administration is working on various programmes to boost provision of healthcare to Murang’a residents.
“The blood collection satellite set up by the national government in partnership with his administration, will help the county to stop relying on other counties in supply of blood,” said the governor.
“The blood collection satellite will ensure patients get treatment here in our local facilities without being transferred to hospitals outside Murang’a,” he added.
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