Hundreds of students and staff turned up in large numbers to donate blood as the government launched this year’s National Blood Donation Drive at Mount Kenya University (MKU), Thika town on February 14.
Charlene Ruto, Kenya’s Blood Ambassador, presided over the event at the Mwai Kibaki Convention Centre where the entire varsity fraternity converged after extensive campaigns by the university management, student leaders and medical students.
“We need to donate blood for our mothers and patients in our hospitals. We are going to visit universities, high schools and different institutions. Later this week, we will visit JKUAT,” she said.
Charlene was recently unveiled by Health Cabinet Secretary Susan Nakhumicha as a Blood Ambassador alongside three others – Kennedy Sanya, the top male blood donor, Aisha Daffalla, the top female blood donor and Caroline Wang’amati, Coalition of Blood for Africa team lead.
Gracing the occasion at Thika was Ministry of Health Principal Secretary (PS) Liti Wambua, Kiambu CECM for Health Services Dr. Elias Maina and Kenya Blood Transfusion and Transplant Services (KBTTS) CEO Dr. Wakwabubi.
MKU Vice-Chancellor (VC) Prof. Deogratius Jaganyi thanked KBTTS for choosing the university to launch this year’s blood transfusion drive.
“In support of the national and global needs on healthcare, MKU has invested and continues to invest heavily through its programmes that train personnel in healthcare in the College of Health Sciences,” he said.
Thanking the distinguished guests and all participants in the exercise,
Dr. Vincent Gaitho, Chairman of the University Council invited researchers to visit the Thika campus and make use of the Malaria Centre where research on malaria vectors and parasites can be done up to the DNA levels.
“Our doors are widely open to all partners. All stakeholders should formalize linkages and follow up with the Vice-Chancellor’s office so that we can work together in the provision of the much-needed healthcare for our communities,” he said.
By James Wakahiu
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