NAIROBI COUNTY OPENS NEW BLOOD DONATION CENTER AT UHURU PARK TO ASSIST WESTGATE ATTACK VICTIMS

Exercise has so far raised 2,972 pints of blood against a target of 5,000 pints Nairobi, September 23, 2013.The Nairobi County Government has opened a new blood donation center at Uhuru Park to cope with the overwhelming response by members of the public to donate blood in aid of victims of the Westgate Mall terror attack. Launching the initiative this morning, Nairobi Governor Dr. Evans Kidero lauded Kenyans for the strong turnout and unity of purpose in the way they had responded to urgent pleas for blood donations to save the lives of those who were injured during the attack and are admitted in various hospitals within the city. I wish to thank the huge number of Kenyans who have responded to our appeal for blood, a clear demonstration of the indomitable spirit of the Kenyan people. The heartless criminals who carried out the senseless (Westgate) attack did not and will never break this spirit, said Dr. Kidero. He added that the Nairobi County Government decided to open the new blood collection center at Uhuru Park to cope with the overwhelming turnout which had overstretched the Kencom bus termini blood donation center opened in the city center on Saturday. Kenya Red Cross (KRC) Secretary General Abbas Gullet said that so far Kenyans have donated 2,972 units of blood in the exercise undertaken jointly by KRC, the Kenya National Blood Transfusion Service and the government. The exercise is targeting collect about 5,000 pints of blood in the coning days. The response has so far been overwhelming and we expect more Kenyans to come forward. We have put in place adequate facilities to deal with the large turnout in the coming days, said Gullet. Over 175 people were wounded in the Saturday attack that left over 69 people dead. Somali terror group Al-Shabaab has claimed responsibility for the attack, the biggest since the 1998 US Nairobi Embassy bombings that claimed the lives of over 270 people. Dr. Kidero also urged psychologists and other experts in counseling to come out and help those affected by the attack. I appeal to those who have counseling skills including psychologists, counselors, pastors and kadhis to lend their skills and expertise to those who were injured in the attack and their families, said the governor. The governor later visited City Mortuary to assess and get a first hand account of the situation and said the County government in collaboration with the national government was doing all it could to assist the families of victims.