County, KNBTS propose Kakuma for Establishment of second Satellite Blood Transfusion Site in Turkana

Medical Services Chief Officer Dr. Gilchrist Lokel today hosted officials of the Kenya National Blood Transfusion Service (KNBTS), on their visit in Turkana for talks on establishment of a second blood transfusion site at Kakuma.

The KNBTS team was led by Alice Mbui, the Coordinator for the “Availability of Safe Blood” project.

This visit, a follow-up of earlier negotiations with the World Bank under the Building Resilient and Responsive Health Project, aimed at improving the capacity of Turkana to offer blood transfusion services for it’s residents and the populations along the neighbouring countries in the Kenya-Uganda, Kenya -South Sudan and Kenya-Ethiopia borders.

Currently, Turkana is served by only one blood transfusion satellite centre at the Lodwar County Referral Hospital.

Dr. Lokel highlighted the critical nature of the initiative, stating, “Setting up this satellite facility will greatly improve our capability to test the safety of blood right here in Kakuma. Previously, the turnaround time for blood tests was long because samples had to be sent to the regional office in Eldoret for feedback, which delayed critical treatments, especially in maternity cases.”

KNBTS’s support includes the provision of medical equipment and consumables, training for local healthcare staff, and two Land Cruiser vehicles, ensuring comprehensive assistance for the project.

Advocacy, Communication, and Social Mobilization (ACSM) efforts are also integral parts of this initiative.

During the meeting, Alice Mbui elaborated on KNBTS’s role, detailing how their support is structured and the expected impacts.

Alice Mbui added that procurement of supplies for the Establishment of the site was already underway to speed up the process.

Dr. Lokel added, “This satellite blood transfusion center is vital for both the growing refugee community and the host community, providing essential support where it’s most needed.”

Expressing his gratitude for the collaboration, Dr. Lokel remarked, “The county government is fully committed to this project, overseeing necessary renovations and providing human resources to ensure its success.”

Also present were Thomas Ngetich, Head of Blood Transfusion for the North Rift Region, and Samuel Kapengi, County Blood Transfusion Coordinator.