By Sherine Atieno

“I was among the emergency response team on the ground to ensure stretchers were availed on time to help save lives of survivors of Friday’s tragic road accident that happened at Coptic roundabout along the Kisumu–Kakamega road. Little did I know…,” These are words of Mr. David Odhiambo, an Information Communication Technology (ICT) Officer at Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital (JOOTRH).
Though his role at the hospital has nothing to do with clinical care, David sprang into action the moment he learned of the accident, determined to help where he could. What he did not know at the time was that among those he was struggling to assist were both parents and other relatives of a close friend. Sadly, some lost their lives at the scene, while others succumbed upon arrival at the hospital’s Accident and Emergency Unit. Hours later, the devastating truth hit him, amplifying the emotional weight of the day.
Despite the grief, David’s resolve only grew stronger. He turned his thoughts to the survivors in the Orthopaedic Trauma Ward—many in urgent need of blood. Early the next morning, he became one of the first people to arrive at JOOTRH’s Blood Transfusion Unit (BTU), ready to donate blood for the first time in his life.
“I’ve never donated blood before, but this tragic accident really touched me. I felt I should wake up and play a role in their recovery,” he says, his voice heavy with emotion. “Yesterday was the most traumatizing day I’ve ever witnessed since I started working in a hospital.” He may not have saved the lives of his friend’s parents, but he knows his blood could save those they were with.
Prepared and determined, David ate a proper meal before donating. He learned his blood group for the first time and praised Mr. Ignatius Yongo, a laboratory technologist at the BTU, for handling the process professionally and with care. Now, he’s mobilising colleagues and friends via WhatsApp statuses and group chats to donate blood, convinced that every pint could be the lifeline a survivor needs.
“Donation has been a routine for me. This is my third time donating for survivors of accident, but I also donate to relatives and friends whenever they need it,” says Mr. Erick Ouma Ng’enda from Kanyamedha Village, Central Kisumu Ward.
For Mr. Ng’enda, none of his relatives were involved in the accident but the images and videos flooding Facebook, TikTok, and other social media platforms stirred something deep within him.
“I went to the morgue and what I saw was so devastating. Families who lost nearly all their members may never recover from the trauma,” he says quietly.
Driven purely by compassion and faith, Mr. Ng’enda stepped forward to donate, grateful to be healthy enough to give blood. This time, he left with a new experience—a donor card inviting him back for a follow-up health check, something he says will encourage him to keep giving in the future.
In the aftermath of tragedy, David and Mr. Ng’enda are proving that when darkness falls, humanity’s brightest light shines through selfless acts—gifts of life that offer survivors more than blood,but hope for tomorrow.

Caroline Aoch, the BTU manager, is calling on members of the public to embrace voluntary blood donation as a way of building a better, more prepared society. “We shouldn’t wait for tragedies to remind us of the need for blood. By donating regularly, we create a future where those in urgent need—whether from accidents, childbirth complications, or illness—can be helped without delay,” she says.