NAIROBI, March 12 (Xinhua) -- Kenya's health ministry said Thursday it plans to establish a blood authority to manage blood donation and transfusion in the country.
Mutahi Kagwe, cabinet secretary in the ministry of health said that the agency will create a paradigm shift in managing blood transfusion in the country.
"We are in the process of developing a framework to this effect to enable the country collect and store sufficient blood for any needy citizen at all time," Kagwe told journalists in Nairobi.
He said that the framework will guide the sector in the absence of law that is still being debated in parliament.
Kagwe revealed that gaps that had existed in the sector have created room for some unscrupulous individuals who have been reported to be selling blood locally and to the neighboring countries.
The official also said that the government is in the process of digitalizing blood process in the country to enable donors know the final beneficiaries of their donations.
"Digitalization makes traceability easy and will help end theft of blood once it is donated by willing donors," he said.
Kagwe said that the management of blood will not be a task of the national government alone, but will be managed right from the counties level.
"The matter of mismanagement of blood is already being investigated by the police and the culprits will soon appear in a court of law," Kagwe added.
A bill, Kenya National Blood Transfusion Service Bill, 2019 has been in parliament awaiting debate and subsequent approval.
It is expected that the Bill will end the blood crisis in the country which poses a threat to thousands of patients requiring transfusion.
