By Sherine Atieno and Dennise Akinyi
As the world commemorates World Blood Donor Day on June 14, Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital (JOOTRH) is urging the public to step forward and donate blood at its newly launched blood bank, located at the former Accident and Trauma (Casualty) Unit.
The donation exercise runs from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., offering an opportunity for staff, students, stakeholders, and the wider community to make a life-saving impact.
For years, JOOTRH relied on the Regional Blood Transfusion Centre for blood supplies to support patients in all its wards. However, since launching its own blood bank in April 2025, the hospital has made commendable progress toward self-sufficiency, already collecting 449 pints of blood in under two months — a milestone that speaks to the determination and support of its team and community. This has helped to minimize the challenge of blood shortage at the hospital.
Despite temporary challenges, including limited staff, inadequate machines, and resource constraints for blood preparation and storage, the hospital has worked diligently to build internal capacity. With additional funding and resource mobilization, the blood bank is poised to become a fully independent unit capable of conducting its own screening and processing.
The current facility, designed to provide a safe, spacious, and well-ventilated environment, welcomes donors every weekday and is set to transition into a 24-hour service centre in the near future. This ongoing development is key to ensuring that every patient in need has access to timely blood transfusions.
Eligible donors are individuals aged between 16 and 65 years, and all donated blood undergoes rigorous screening before being stored under controlled conditions. Red blood cells are refrigerated at 1–6°C, platelets maintained at 20–24°C with constant agitation, and plasma frozen at below –18°C to preserve efficacy.
To appreciate the generosity of donors, JOOTRH provides refreshments after every donation. The hospital also extends sincere thanks to the 15 medical officer interns who have passionately championed this cause, alongside the many volunteer donors whose contributions continue to save lives every day.
On this special day, JOOTRH renews its commitment to promoting blood donation and calls on every eligible person to donate blood and be the reason someone lives. Your pint can restore hope and health — possibly for someone close to you.