WHO WE ARE
The Kenya National Blood Transfusion Service (KNBTS) was established in the year 2000 in the Ministry of Health. Its mandate is to collect, test, and process and distribute blood and blood products to all transfusing hospitals in Kenya.
KNBTS has six Regional Blood Transfusion Centres (RBTCs) namely Nairobi, Embu, Nakuru, Eldoret, Kisumu and Mombasa and 21 satellite centers located in Machakos, Kisii, Voi, Meru, Naivasha, Busia, Siaya, Kericho, Nyeri, Garissa, Malindi, Thika, Lodwar, Bungoma, Kitale, Kwale, Nandi, Kitui, Narok, Lamu, Wajir and Migori.
Functionally all the six Regional Blood Transfusion Centres carry out blood collections, testing, grouping, storage and distribution. While satellites carry out blood collection and send samples to RBTCs for testing.
Vision
To be a world leader in the provision of safe blood for all.
Mission
To provide safe blood for all in an equitable, efficient and effective manner towards improved human health and quality of life in Kenya.
Our Core Values
- Strategic and proactive approach to issues.
- Efficiency with efficacy in performance of work and use of resources.
- Honesty and trustworthiness.
- Quality assurance and enhancement on a continuous basis.
- Discipline at all times in all areas while carrying out KNBTS business.
- Respect for self and others.
- Equal opportunities to all.
Overall KNBTS Objectives
- Improve equity and access to blood transfusion services.
- Ensure safety of blood for transfusion.
- Strengthen the organization and management structure of KNBTS to improve its efficiency and effectiveness.
- Strengthen quality assurance systems and monitor capacity of KNBTS.
- Foster partnerships and improve financing of KNBTS activities.
KNBTS Key Achievements
Established visible integrated service
Trained and dedicated personnel
Infrastructure developed
Management system in place
Increased blood collection
Reduced prevalence of TTIs
Policy guidelines developed
More RBTCs established
Background of Blood Transfusion in Kenya
1930s: transfusions were organized around surgical practice.
1950s: with increasing demand, BRCS organized BTS.
1964: after independence the GOK with KRCS support took over.
Late 1960s: BTS was run as part of hospital laboratory services with no dedicated budget line, staff, or equipment. Each hospital sourced for their own blood.
From 1985: with advent of HIV/AIDS, reduced blood collections, increased cost of blood and increased emphasis on blood safety became more critical.
The need for adequate and reliable supply of blood became apparent immediately after the August 7, 1998 Bomb explosion in Nairobi.
The service was established with the assistance of US Government in 2001
Kenya’s Key Milestones
In 1994 Kenya recognized the need to set up a national blood service in line with WHO recommendations and WHA resolutions.
Recommendations were made to establish a regional network of transfusion centres under central coordination
In 2001 Kenya’s first-ever blood policy guidelines were developed and launched and first Regional blood transfusion centre (RBTC) and national coordinating office were established in Nairobi.
Progressively 6 regional and 21 satellite centres have been established.
Blood policy guidelines developed: National Blood Transfusion standards, Hemovigilance manual for transfusing hospitals, Appropriate use of blood and blood products, among others
KNBTS is currently deploying a vein to vein centralized Blood Establishment Computerized system in all its centres
