The Swadhyaya Community in Uganda has challenged Ugandans to be more selfless, compassionate and generous in 2023 in order to tap into the abundant blessings God has reserved for the year. 

According to Nilax Bhatt, one of the Swadhyaya devotees, it is important for people to live beyond the limitations of cast, creed, colour, language, faith, nationality, gender and age, aware of the fact that we are all children of God, who should bless and look out for each other. 

“Selfless acts impress God, who is above all, and we should remember that before him there is no rich or poor, less or mighty. Selflessness, compassion and generosity are therefore things we should do more often,” he said, during the Christmas celebration in Bukoto. 

The community was donating blood, as a way of celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ, who liberated the human race by pouring his blood at the cross in Calvary. Approximately 110 units of blood were collected.  

The blood donation drive, which first took place in 2019, also happened in Jinja, Nairobi, Mombasa and Kisumu in Kenya, as well as the US, UK and Australia as part of an offering inspired by Rev. Pandurang Shastri Athavale (Dadaji). 

Pandurang, popularly known as Rev. Dadaji, an activist, philosopher and social scientist, is the founder of the Swadhyaya movement. 

Bhatt said donating blood on Christmas is part of their global program of twadartham (for you) activities to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, premised on gratitude and devotion to God and understanding of oneness and solidarity with the community. 

Piyush Dixit another Swadhyaya devotee said the community regularly donates blood, since it is neither manufactured nor copyrighted to any individual, to keep the supply for those in need of it. 

“As we celebrate Christmas and begin the new year, let us be more mindful of those dependent on blood to overcome health difficulties and donate. Let us be more compassionate and selfless, because in essence, we are all the same, and need one another,” he said. 

According to the Nakasero Blood Bank, the country needs approximately 2000 units of blood every day, which must be collected from people, in order to save those in need. 

But according to Dr Paul Kagwa, a health ministry official, less than 1% of the Ugandan population donates blood, with most of the donors coming from schools and institutions of higher academic learning. 

Kagwa said blood is expensive to collect, screen and distribute, which is why the blood bank is dedicated to efforts to avail it to those who need it across the country. 

According to the United Nations World Health Organisation (WHO), every society must have 1% of its population donating blood at least one a year, in order to meet the demand.