KCMC faces blood shortage
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THE Haematology department at KCMC Zonal Referral Hospital (KCMC ZRH) is currently facing blood shortage.
Briefing reporters here recently, the person in charge of the department Mr Daudi Joho, attributed the shortage to the rising number of surgeries conducted at the medical facility.
“We’ve recently had many patients coming for surgeries while expectant mothers have also been receiving blood,” said Mr Joho, at a free medical camp organised by the Philemon Ndesamburo Foundation (PNF) and the Moshi FM media team.
According to Mr Joho, the current blood demand at KCMC Hospital stands at 4,700 units per year, which equates to 392 units per month.
He said that the medical facility was contending with relatively minimal blood donations, compared to the real need.
“In March this year, we were able to receive only 400 units, which is very little amount of blood,” explained Mr Joho.
The expert singled out young children as the sole beneficiaries of the hospital’s blood bank, saying they use around 50 per cent of the donated blood.
Mr Joho underscored the importance of sensitising the general public on the need of donating blood.
“There’s a need of raising people’s awareness all over the country about the importance of the voluntary blood donation to save lives,” he added.
Speaking at the camp, PNF Board Member Ms Lucy Ndesamburo said that the event aimed at supporting activities done by the late Philemon Ndesamburo, in his lifetime.
A number of health services were offered during the medical camp, including free health checkups and blood donations.
One of the beneficiaries of the free testing camp, Mr James Kilamia said he had discovered of a health challenge he wasn’t aware of, through the free medical camp.