Kenya’s Ministry of Health has rejected assertions that donated blood from citizens is being shipped overseas, describing the allegations as deceptive and stemming from incorrect interpretation of global trade information.
During a Thursday announcement, Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale clarified that reports shared across online platforms and social networks inaccurately represented data from the World Integrated Trade Solutions portal concerning Kenyan exports classified under ‘human and animal blood’.
The Cabinet Secretary explained that this classification represents a comprehensive international customs designation encompassing numerous medical, pharmaceutical and laboratory items, such as vaccines, microbial cultures, toxins, antisera and various biological substances.
As Duale noted, ‘The referenced ‘Human and animal blood’ category constitutes a universal trade classification that encompasses additional substances like vaccines, toxins, antisera, other blood-derived products, microbial cultures and related materials’.
He stressed that this classification specifically excludes blood collected from donors for transfusion purposes within Kenya.
This clarification responds to online assertions indicating that blood contributed by Kenyan citizens was being transported to other nations for commercial gain.
The ministry stated that certain figures appearing in the trade statistics correspond to multinational corporations maintaining regional supply and logistics centers in Kenya, which import and subsequently distribute medical and laboratory commodities throughout the East African region.
As Duale explained, ‘The referenced statistics encompass numerous imported items by multinational entities functioning as regional supply and logistics hubs in Kenya that later reallocate portions of these products across the East African area’.
Additionally, the ministry affirmed that Kenya does not export any donated blood or blood components intended for the creation of blood-derived products in foreign countries.
‘The Ministry of Health does not ship any donated blood or blood components for the manufacturing of blood-derived products in overseas nations,’ he clarified.
Duale further observed that Kenya presently does not produce plasma-derived commodities including clotting factors, albumin and immunoglobulins, nor does it engage in plasma fractionation processes.
Therefore, the nation imports these specialized blood products from globally certified manufacturers for application in healthcare facilities and research laboratories.
‘Kenya does not produce antisera utilized in blood typing and laboratory diagnostics or plasma-derived blood products. Accordingly, all such blood commodities utilized domestically are imported,’ he added.
The ministry encouraged citizens to confirm health-related information through official sources to prevent dissemination of false information that might erode trust in Kenya’s healthcare framework and blood donation initiatives.
Duale cautioned that the administration would collaborate with appropriate investigative bodies to pursue individuals discovered to be propagating inaccurate or deceptive health information.
‘The Ministry of Health will cooperate with pertinent investigative agencies to identify and apprehend individuals distributing and publishing misleading health information to the Kenyan populace in accordance with current legislation,’ he stated.
Over recent years, Kenya has persisted in promoting voluntary blood donation to assist emergency care, surgical procedures, maternal healthcare services and treatment for individuals with chronic conditions necessitating transfusions.
The ministry declared its ongoing dedication to enhancing the national blood infrastructure to guarantee availability of safe and high-quality healthcare services.