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{
    "id": 1081786,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1081786/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 277,
    "type": "other",
    "speaker_name": "",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "This Blood Transfusion Bill also comes at a time when this country is actually facing a shortage of blood. The National Blood Transfusion Services Bill actually puts it that Kenya requires about half a million to one million units of blood a year, yet it collects about 200,000 units. It is clear that Kenya still needs blood. I like the Bill because it provides a framework for ensuring that this blood collected is blood treated in a manner that is a bit more dignifying and that actually benefits the people that it is supposed to benefit. Therefore, for me this is a good Bill. I also like the framework because it ensures that even despite the fact that we do not have enough blood in this country, we are protecting the little blood that is going to save the lives of Kenyans. That is why if you look at the law the way it says – there have been a lot of illegal trade with blood itself. We have seen situations where you are told that there is no blood then in the media, you will hear that some Kenyans were engaged in blood business in Somalia, Sudan and wherever. That kind of business with blood is what the Bill is trying to regulate. If someone, for instance a doctor or a quack or whoever it is, because anybody who engages in blood business is a quack, is found guilty, he should be charged over Kshs20 million. That is a good law that protects the people that actually donate blood. The first time I ever donated blood was in New York City. I was a student in New York. You know in developed countries you are actually told to go and donate blood because there is incentive for blood donation in those countries. I do not know how that works. This is because here with our blood donation you are told it is voluntary. However, in developed countries you realise that you go there as students and you could actually donate blood and you get incentives for that donation. Therefore, it is somewhat normal for them. I do not know how then the law puts that. However, for me I feel the normal way of donating blood is so that it becomes just as a natural way of saving a life. As we speak now, in our Constitution, Article 43(1) (a) actually guarantees the right to health. That every Kenyan has a right to the highest attainable standards of health in this country. This is a Bill that is helping shape health in this country. Moreover, we are aware that health is a devolved function. The electronic version of the Official Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor."
}