'Nation' staff donate blood to celebrate Valentine's Day
Nation Media Group Staff employees donate blood in an exercise coordinated by the Kenya Blood Transfusion and Transplant Service at Nation Centre in Nairobi on February 13, 2025.
What you need to know:
- NMG’s Chief Operating Officer Monicah Ndung’u said the drive was an act of love aimed at saving lives.
- David Muthoka, a reporter at NTV, expressed his joy for the opportunity to donate blood for the very first time.
The Nation Media Group’s (NMG) staff on Thursday donated blood in the spirit of sharing love as part of this year’s Valentine’s Day celebrations.
The ‘spread the love” campaign carried out at the Nation Centre in Nairobi was a collaboration between NMG and the Kenya Blood Transfusion and Transplant Service (KBTTS).
While calling upon Kenyans to join in hands and donate blood, the NMG’s Chief Operating Officer (COO), Monicah Ndung’u stated that the drive was an act of love aimed at saving lives.
“As the world celebrates love, we took a moment to give from the heart — quite literally. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to everyone who rolled up their sleeves to donate. Your generosity could be the difference between life and loss for someone in need,” stated the COO.
Nation Media Group Staff employees Gabriel Mungai (left) and Maureen Njeri donate blood at Nation Centre in Nairobi on February 13, 2025.
“We also urge all Kenyans to keep this spirit alive beyond today. If you couldn’t join us, you can still visit any hospital or KBTTS donation centre and play your part. A single donation can save multiple lives — what better way to truly spread the love?”
Increased cases of chronic illnesses such as cancer, kidney failure, anaemia in children and accidents are among the leading factors that have raised demand for blood in hospitals across the country, according to KBTTS Medical Laboratory Officer, Nairobi Region, Milka Omweri.
“At least seven Kenyans are in need of blood transfusion and they risk losing their lives if it is not available,” stated Omweri.
The officer stated that Kenya falls short of the World Health Organisation (WHO) recommendations on the level of blood donation which requires one percent of the country’s population to donate blood annually.
“In Kenya we need 500 – 600 units of donated blood every year in line with WHO’s standards,” she noted.
“We are still below this target as a nation. Last year in 2024, we were at 450 units.”
The KBTTS blood donation campaign, which takes place every year to coincide with the Valentine’s Day, began on Monday and will proceed till the end of February.
David Muthoka, a reporter at NTV, expressed his joy for the opportunity to donate blood for the very first time.
Nation Media Group reporter David Muthoka donates blood in an exercise coordinated by the Kenya Blood Transfusion and Transplant Service at Nation Centre in Nairobi on February 13, 2025.
“I told myself I must do it. In the past, I never really paid attention. It goes a long way in saving lives. I am not doing it for myself. Maybe one day I will need blood,” he said.
For Maureen Kibunja from the Commercial Department, it was such a relief to finally be able to donate blood after trying severally to donate in the past unsuccessfully.
“I have always wanted to donate blood but initially I did not have sufficient blood. I tried in high school and campus to no avail. I had a close friend whose mother was in need of blood and I really felt bad when I was told I could not donate.”
Men cannot donate blood four times in a year every three months while women can donate blood three times in a year every four months, explained Ms Omweri.
Individuals who are fit to donate blood must be aged between 15 – 65, weigh 50kgs and above, haemoglobin levels of 12.5 and above and they should not have any underlying health complications, explains the expert.
Pregnant women, breast feeding mothers, women who are menstruating, patients with chronic illnesses, are among those unfit to donate blood.
Once blood is donated, it is screened and tested for the five transfusion, transmissible infections (TTS) which include HIV, Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, Syphilis, and malaria before it is entered in the Blood Management System where every blood donor is registered.