Medical Services Principal Secretary Dr. Ouma Oluga has announced an urgent blood donation drive at the Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital (JOOTRH) to assist survivors of a road crash that claimed 25 lives on the Kisumu–Kakamega road on Friday evening.
The accident involved a school bus ferrying mourners from Nyahera heading back to Nyakach.
Thirty-two survivors are admitted to JOOTRH’s Orthopaedic Trauma Ward, many of them in critical condition.
Speaking at the hospital’s Accident and Emergency Unit after visiting the injured, Dr. Oluga described the tragedy as a national loss.
“This is tragic news for the entire country, and we are united in this sorrow. The Ministry of Health is doing everything possible to prevent more lives from being lost and to support these families,” he said, adding that the Ministry of Interior has been contacted to assist bereaved families.
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The blood drive will take place at Leresian Park within JOOTRH from 9am today, with the hospital’s Blood Transfusion Unit managing donations from the public.
Dr. Oluga commended the hospital’s rapid emergency response, saying all survivors had been attended to and admitted to wards within three hours of arrival.
A counselling tent and a communication desk have been set up to support affected families.
The PS said emergency medical teams are working with police to secure personal belongings recovered from the crash site.
“We are moving from the medical response to the social support needed to calm and unite the families as we mourn together,” he said.
Blood Transfusion Unit also praised JOOTRH’s swift and organised response.
MP Abuyu noted that the availability of critical medical equipment, such as a portable X-ray machine, was instrumental in saving lives.
Nyakach MP Aduma Owuor said the Coptic roundabout where the accident occurred has claimed many lives over the years calling on the Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) to relook at the designs.
By Fredrick Odiero
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