-
The county does not have a blood bank.
-
There have been dire situations where the county had been forced to fly in pints of blood from Nairobi, Mombasa and Kilifi counties to cater to emergencies.
The Lamu government has launched a massive blood donation drive to boost supply in major hospitals across the county.
The drive is being held in coordination with the Riyadha Mosque and Islamic Centre’s Health and Welfare Service Group and the Kenya Red Cross.
The county does not have a blood bank.
The county has three major hospitals – King Fahad County Hospital in Lamu Island, Mpeketoni Subcounty Hospital in Lamu West and Faza Subcounty Hospital in Lamu East.
The main health centres are Mokowe and Witu, while the rest are dispensaries.
Over the years, a majority of patients had to be referred to Nairobi, Mombasa and Kilifi counties for blood transfusions.
There have been dire situations where the county was forced to fly in pints of blood from Nairobi, Mombasa and Kilifi counties to cater to emergencies.
For the Riyadha Mosque, their taking part in the drive is their Maulid token towards humanity.
The Maulid Festival is marked annually by a section of Muslims in remembrance of the birth of Prophet Muhammed in the holy city of Mecca in 570AD.
This year’s festival runs from November 2-4.
Lamu Health executive Anne Gathoni said on Tuesday they are urging those coming to Lamu for the festival to take part in the blood drive.
“We are using Maulid to urge the many people coming in to help save a life by donating blood. It's voluntary,” she said.
Gathoni said much of the donated blood goes towards assisting mothers during childbirth.
She said even though the county’s blood facility is still under renovation, they are able to collect, screen and stock their own blood, unlike previously when they had to rely on regional blood centres in Mombasa and Nairobi.
Gathoni said the county is in the process of completing and equipping a Sh45 million blood bank in the mainland area of Mokowe in Lamu west.
“We are grateful for the milestones we are making with the blood bank facility in Mokowe. What we are focusing on now is building a blood donation culture to ensure constant supply,” she said.
Lamu senior medical officer Mbarak Bahjaj, who was part of the coordinators of the blood drive, said 21 pints of blood had been collected so far.
“The donated blood will aid the operations that will be conducted during Maulid. It will also help save the lives of other patients in need of blood in Lamu health facilities,” Bahjaj said.
Hafwa Aboud, who donated blood at Mkunguni Square, said many people shy away for fear that their HIV status will be exposed.
Edited by A.N