A SmartBank blood collection centre has been launched at Nairobi’s Mama Lucy Kibaki hospital to help increase blood collection in the country.
The centre, which is a first-of-its-kind, aims at bridging the blood supply gap in Kenya by using technology and providing a low-cost and innovative solution to blood challenges in hospitals and other healthcare facilities.
The collection and donations hardly cover half of the Kenya blood demand which is is approximately one million units annually.
Blood collection, banking, and last-mile delivery to health care facilities will be improved by the new facility as it will use next-generation technology including blockchain technology and artificial intelligence in the process.
One will log into an application to donate blood and the application will schedule appointments for blood donors in such a way that they have a health officer ready to collect blood from them once they arrive eliminating the need to wait.
Over 2.1 million residents depending on Mama Lucy Hospital for healthcare services will be served by the system operationalized by the Nairobi Metropolitan Services (NMS) in collaboration with Lifebank and the Kenya National Blood Transfusion Services (KNBTS).
There are now two public blood collection facility in Kenya, counting the Blood Transfusion Unit at Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH).
According to NMS boss Director-General Mohamed Badi, the commissioning of the facility is a significant milestone in improving blood sustainability in the country.
Many patients suffer after failing to get access to blood, he stated during the launch of the facility.
“Having steady, reliable blood supply is key to saving lives as blood transfusion is a key component in healthcare saving lives of millions every year. As NMS, we are committed to setting up more blood collection centres in partnership with the KNBTS and many more like-minded partners,” said Badi.
According to NMS Health Services Director Dr. Ouma Oluga, almost half of women who die during childbirth at KNH die due to post-partum hemorrhage with about nine patients daily having had to have their surgeries cancelled due to shortage of blood.
Oluga said, “We could save many with the availability of blood. Apart from helping in the collection of blood, it will also help in separation of blood and having to take blood specimen to KNBTS for screening.”
KNBTS Director Dr. Nduku Kilonzo stressed that blood-banking is crucial and there should be a steady, reliable blood supply to address national disasters and save lives.
She added that KNBTS has collected 63,000 units since the start of the year which shows that
progress has been made in the last four months in blood collection in the country.
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