Country suffers major deficit in blood group O negative

The Kenya National Blood Transfusion Service is appealing to any person with blood group O- (negative) to urgently come forward and donate.

According to the Director for Kenya National Blood Transfusion Service Dr. Margaret Oduor, there are five patients admitted at the Kenyatta National Hospital who are critically ill and urgently require the blood.

A minimum of 10 units are required.

Blood donors are requested to visit the blood donation centres and satellites nationally that are located in Nairobi, Embu, Nakuru, Eldoret, Kisumu, Mombasa, Machakos, Kisii, Voi, Meru, Naivasha, Kakamega, Kericho, Nyeri, Garissa, Malindi, Thika, Lodwar, Bungoma and Kitale.

Additionally, donors in Nairobi can visit the mobile blood donation sites at KENCOM and Biashara Street.

To qualify as a blood donor one needs to be 50 Kgs and above, be between 16 and 65 years old and of good health.

The centres nationally are open seven days a week.

According to First Lady Margaret Kenyatta, the country needs at least 1 percent of the 40 million Kenyans to donate blood at least once a year.

During the World Blood Donor Day in 2014, the First  Lady called on Kenyans to donate more blood in a bid to enhance the reserve across the country.

Mrs Kenyatta said that every 10 minutes, 7 Kenyans who need blood  are at risk of dying if it is not available.