HOPEww Kenya Volunteers Mobilize Quickly Following Terrorist Attack Featured

Tuesday, 08 October 2013 13:30
volunteer Kenya blood drive 1Nairobi, Kenya -- On the morning of Saturday, September 21, 2013 most people in Kenya’s capital of Nairobi were busy with their weekend plans. At about 11:30 a.m. news of an attack at Westgate Mall in the Westlands area started spreading fast through the media. At first the details were unclear. Around 2:00 p.m. it was confirmed that it was a terrorist attack with victims and hostages. A rescue operation ensued and soon various hospitals sent out appeals for blood donations. Ultimately, the official tally of those directly affected by the terrorist attack was 67 dead and more than 200 injured.

In partnership with the National Blood Transfusion Services, the HOPE worldwide Kenya Blood Safety Team responded quickly. The usual Sunday morning activities changed from the usual dress for church to roll-up-your sleeves for work, with all focus directed to the blood donation site within the Nairobi Business District.

HOPE worldwide Kenya called on their staff and all program volunteers to offer their services. They responded quickly, branded in HOPEww Kenya attire ready to serve. Kenyans responded to the calls through the media in typical Kenyan style - thousands of people came forward to donate blood or food items in support.

ques for blood donationsHOPE worldwide Kenya supported the events by availing tents for blood donation, supporting the clerks with filling in donor details, picking up trash, and most importantly blood donor education throughout the mobilization activities. HOPEww Kenya, together with other partners, assisted in the mobilization of 6,175 people to donate blood.  One of the HOPEww Kenya blood donor mobilizers, Douglas Kiforo, was featured in the leading daily newspaper, The Daily Nation, for his selfless efforts in educating and mobilizing blood donors. 

 

Read 2939 times Last modified on Wednesday, 09 October 2013 05:34