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MPs have asked the finance ministry to avail a supplementary request of shillings 10 billion for blood donation activities.

The money is supposed to be passed through the National Drug Authority (NDA) to facilitate the Uganda Blood Transfusion Services.

Members of Parliament (MPs) were responding to a call from Deputy Speaker of Parliament Thomas Tayebwa urging them to donate blood. 

He made the call in his communication during plenary on Tuesday, February 13, 2024. 

“The blood bank has been out in the media calling upon people to donate blood. We are having a big shortage in the country,” Tayebwa said.

He called on the Clerk to Parliament to organise a blood donation week at Parliament to enable MPs to participate. 

“Let us donate blood and we save lives, you never know who you will save. I will be grateful if you can join, [because] I will join,” Tayebwa said.

Urgent need

Sarah Opendi (Indep., Tororo District Woman MP), however, said there is an urgent need to facilitate NDA to procure reagents and storage facilities. 

“Uganda Blood Transfusion Services is short by shillings 10 billion and in November, they put in a supplementary request which up to now has not been granted. As we speak now, they have already used all the quarter four funds,” she said.

Opendi added that without the necessary equipment to preserve and store the blood, blood donation drives would not yield much. 

Third Deputy Prime Minister Rukia Nakadama said she will follow up with the finance ministry to ensure that funds are committed to NDA.

More funding needed

Samuel Opio (Indep., Kole North County) said since Parliament is in the process of considering ministerial policy statements, MPs should ensure that priority is given to Nakasero Blood Bank to facilitate it to carry out its mandate.

“Uganda needs 450,000 units of blood annually. However, we are only collecting 350,000 units, according to the United Nations. That means there is a gap of 100,000 units. Several times we have presented unfunded priorities of the blood bank, they need more staff and vehicles to facilitate their work,” he said.

Judith Achan (NRM, Nwoya District Woman MP) said the health ministry should strive to ensure that all hospitals are well stocked with blood storage facilities. 

“There is nowhere to keep blood, much as we try to mobilise the blood donation, storage is a challenge,” she said.