Members of Parliament have tasked the finance ministry with availing a supplementary request of sh10 billion to support blood donation services.

Specifically, the supplementary request would be to the National Drug Authority (NDA) to facilitate the Uganda Blood Transfusion Services (UBTS) to carry out blood donation activities.

The MPs were responding to a call by Deputy Speaker Thomas Tayebwa, urging them to donate blood.

Deputy Speaker Thomas Tayebwa has asked Members of Parliament to donate blood. (File photo)

He made the call in his communication during the plenary sitting on Tuesday (February 13).

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

He urged the Clerk to Parliament to organize a blood donation week in Parliament enable MPs to participate. 

“Let us donate blood and we save lives. You never know who you will save. I will really be grateful if you can join. I will join."

'No money left'

In her comment, Tororo district Woman MP Sarah Opendi said there is an urgent need to facilitate NDA to procure reagents and storage facilities. 

“Uganda Blood Transfusion Services is short by sh10 billion and in November, they put a supplementary request which up to now has not been granted. As we speak now, they have already used all the quarter four funds, so they have no money left," she said.

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

Uganda needs 450,000 units of blood annually. However, we are only collecting 350,000 units, according to the United Nations. (File photo)

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

Kole North MP Samuel Opio said that since Parliament is in the process of considering ministerial policy statements, legislators 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," he said.

"Several times we have presented unfunded priorities of the blood bank. They need more staff and vehicles to facilitate their work."

Nwoya district Woman MP Judith Achan 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 mobilize the blood donation, storage is a challenge."