In the month of March 2007, HOPE
worldwide Kenya (HWWK) held a blood donation and sensitization Celebrity Week. The goal for Celebrity week was to create awareness to the public on issues of blood donation and blood safety. Celebrities from music, TV and stage, together with personalities from the health, business and religious sectors drew crowds and promoted blood donation through song, dance and speeches.
At any given time there are people in our community who need the help that potential donors can so easily provide simply by donating blood. Some of these patients have suffered serious injuries, or severe burns. Some need blood during surgery. Others have life threatening chronic diseases like leukemia and cancer that require frequent transfusions. Others are our children, our own mothers who have lost a lot of blood at child birth, accident victims and so on.
The celebrity week pitched tent on a rotational basis around the Nairobi city center, strategically at Anniversary Towers, then Wabera Street, followed by Aga Khan Walk, Memorial Park and rounding off the week at Kencom, in order to reach as many as possible, both new and repeat blood donors.
The sidewalks around the venues for the blood mobilization sessions were turned into mini-concert arenas as through song and dance, colour and choreography, a large number of celebrities turned up to promote blood donation. Among them were both established and upcoming artistes, musicians and thespians, dancers and instrumentalists, contemporary and traditional – sharing the same goal of helping the residents of Nairobi understand and respond to the urgent need for blood donation.
The celebrities included Mighty King Kong, Desert Storm Acrobats, Eric Wainaina, Esther Wahome, Cedric, Kariuki Gathitu, Jackson Ingosi, Golden Vocal Chords,
S.K Blue, Nzumari Africa, Arabron Osanya and Singles With A Touch.
Various personalities and prominent individuals from the professional and health sector also participated and gave speeches.
“It was our goal to collect 600 pints of blood in the six days that we ran the event,” shares Frida Mcharo of the HWWK blood program, “and in the end we got 630.” The celebrity week was indeed a success.
When Dr. Shikanda took to the podium he affirmed that there is need to change the blood bank culture as it is the only bank that is not doing well. “The blood bank should not be managed by crisis, where we donate blood only when we have a relative in hospital,” Dr. Shikanda implored. “This sector needs to be managed seriously to ensure it performs well.” He urged the government and corporate firms should put more effort in this sector to save lives, and emphasized the importance to ensure the blood bank performs as well if not better than commercial banks.
Chairman of the Nairobi Central Business District Association, Mr. Wafula Nabutola
said, “ It is upon us to be prepared for disasters by having adequate blood. People tend to want to receive but this is a time to give.” Mr. Nabutola, who shared that the first time he gave blood was when his ailing mother needed a transfusion, added, “Blood donation needs a strategized way of marketing and management. It is a very worthwhile course and deserves that all possible resources be mobilized to make it all that it needs to be.”
The director of NBTS, Dr. Jack Nyamongo, in a speech read on his behalf by Tim Odongo, the National Recruiter, said he was glad that HWWK had sponsored the weeklong noble activity of blood donation noting that Nairobi’s demand for blood continues to rise. “Hospitals are consistently under a lot of strain to have enough blood available for patients in need,” he observed.
Eric Wainaina is one of Kenya’s foremost contemporary singers. Before donating blood he made a call to all Kenyans using the words of the great hero Nelson Mandela, “Humtu Gabantu” translated, “We are interconnected,” which, he elaborated, means that my fate can be yours, if I need you today it may just mean you will in turn need me tomorrow.
Eric has not been a regular donor, which he admitted, having given blood just three times in his lifetime. “Like most Kenyans,” he shared, “I don’t mind giving blood as long as there is an obvious and immediate need.” As a major public figure Eric declared that stakeholders should persevere in creating awareness, adding that if the figures of public influence were approached they would be more than willing to donate blood as has happened during emergencies. “I pledge to give blood four times in a year,” Eric committed himself.
Ustadh Rajab Gakuria of the Council of Imams was categorical that when one donates blood it shows they care about humanity. “If you doubt donating blood, fight the doubt, donate blood. You have enough blood to give some of it,” he said, adding, “Blood is not racially, religiously or socially donated. It is donated by all and the only distinction is your blood type.
Actor master Sugu, of TV's "Tahidi High," said that life is for all human beings and blood should not be selectively donated, while actor and director Arabron Osanya said that as Kenyans are known to be generous people let us generously donate blood.
Frida Mcharo concludes, “Organizing the celebrity blood donation week was a colossal task that required collaborative efforts from partners, friends and the public. The level of participation in organizing the event was assuring as all who were involved put in their best efforts and time. With continuous support from the public, together with our partners, NBTS and CDC, we hope that the next celebrity blood donation week will be at an even higher level, along the same objectives and mission but with a broader outlook and greater targets.”
