World Blood Donor Day

World Blood Donor Day

Today, Kenya joins the world is celebrating the blood donor day.

This is a special event that is marked on 14^th June every year and forms one of the global public health campaigns by the World Health Organization.

The theme for 2020 is: Safe Blood Saves Lives

This year’s slogan is: Give Blood And Make The World A Healthier Place

Every few seconds, someone needs blood. You can help save the situation by:

• Becoming a blood donor
• Being a regular donor 
• Volunteer and organise blood donation drives in your locality

Blood Donation In Kenya

Kenya has been facing a shortage for blood products and the situation got worse when the US government withdrew its funding through the Pepfar program late in 2019.

With a population of close to 50 million, Kenya needs a million units of blood every year. The current figures are nowhere near this target. currently, the units of blood collected per year are 164,275, according to the Kenya National Blood Transfusion Service (KNBTS). Through individual efforts, we can make the situation.

On this world blood donor day 2020, make an effort to donate blood and save a life. You can find the blood donation centre near you here.

Why You Should Donate:

Blood and blood products help to save people with different health needs such as:

• Women who suffer from bleeding after delivery
• Children who suffer from anaemia
• Patients with blood diseases
• People who suffer trauma due to accidents or assault
• People undergoing surgical procedures

Who Can Donate Blood?

You are eligible to donate blood in Kenya if you meet the following criteria

• Aged between 18 and 65 years. Other criteria can be used for people who are below 18 such as physical attributes.
• Weight of 50 kg and above
• A person in good health condition
• Haemoglobin of at least 12 g/dl for women and 13 g/dl for men
• Should have no history of travel to places where infections such as dengue virus are endemic.
• Should not have undergone a dental procedure in the past 24 hours
• Should not be pregnant or breastfeeding
• Should not have had a body piercing or tattoo within the past 6 months
• Should not be engaging in high risk sexual behaviour

Before you donate blood, you will be issued with forms to fill. You need to give honest information so that you don’t endanger your life and that of the recipient.

Tests Used to Screen Donated Blood:

Various tests are carried out to establish the safety of blood and blood products before it can be transfused. The common tests done in Kenya are:

• HIV test
• Hepatitis B and C
• Screening test for Syphilis

Additional tests that can be carried out on donated blood include:

• Human T-Lymphotropic Virus (HTLV)
• West Nile virus
• Zika Virus
• Babesia
• Bacterila contamination
• Trypanosomiasis
• Cytomegalovirus(CMV)

Become a donor today and save a lives