Patients who require blood transfusion in Kisii and Nyamira counties risk dying due to shortage of blood at the Kisii Satellite Blood Bank Centre.

The Officer in charge of the centre, Henry Sendora, said the satellite, which is under the Kenya National Blood Transfusion Services requires 2,000 units of blood per month but has only 10 screened blood for emergency.

Sendora said they were waiting for results for 50 units to be screened in Kisumu Testing Centre. The process is expected to take long because the screening machine broke down.

“Screening is done in Kisumu, Eldoret and Nairobi centres. It takes long and it affects patients who require emergency transfusion,” he said.

He said Pepfar, a donor Agency under Centre for Disease Control (CDC), a US supported Organisation used to support the centre but pulled out last September, paralysing its operations.

Sendora said the centre lacks screening, testing machines, blood bags, screening reagents, refreshments, donor cards, certificates and funds to maintain the centre’s vehicle.

He said the centre also serves part of  Transmara in Narok county. He said that out of the 2,000 units required per month, Kisii Teaching and Referral Hospital uses 850 units per month, while the remaining is  shared among other health facilities. 

The officer said they delay in screening of blood results in wastage because they are often forced discard it when it expires.

He urged the government to upgrade the satellite to a regional centre and equip it with screening machines, blood bags and other materials to keep blood and avoid wastage.