[PHOTOS] Kenyans urged to donate blood to avert countrywide shortage

Nairobi dwellers last week volunteered in a blood drive program organized by Forever Nature Gift Nutrition in partnership with the Red Cross, Nairobi County Government, and the NMS at the Kenya National Archives.

The ongoing program intends to curb blood shortages in hospitals around the country.

Eligible are healthy adults above 16 and below 65 years of age with a minimum weight of 50kg.

According to the blood transfusion service, about seven Kenyans need blood every 10 minutes and risk death if it is not available.

This translates to 1,008 units of blood daily.

However, blood units donated and stored by KNBTS fell to a low of 155,600 in the year ending June 2019, down from 160,000 units in the same period in the previous year.

This is attributed to the closure of schools due to the Covid-19 pandemic as students stand out to be the main donors.

Speaking to the managing director of Forever Nature Gift Nutrition, Kinyua Emilio expressed his appreciation for the good turnout and support from the citizens.

"I am glad to see how Nairobians are ready to support this initiative, we will be extending the blood drive to other densely populated areas such as Mathare and Kibera and I call upon Kenyans to volunteer in large numbers," he said.

The donation targets 200 people per day and will continue on Monday.