Blood donation will save mothers, Ugandans told
“Excessive bleeding after childbirth has persistently remained the leading and most preventable cause of maternal death in our country,” Charlotte Kainerugaba said, noting that when a mother bleeds excessively after childbirth, every second counts, stressing the importance of having blood available where and when it is needed.
Charlotte Kainerugaba (right) being received as she arrived for the launch of a blood donation drive at Kololo Ceremonial Grounds on Saturday.
KAMPALA - Ugandans have been rallied to donate more blood to save patients who need it, especially the thousands of mothers who succumb to postpartum haemorrhage (excessive bleeding at childbirth) every year.
The appeal was made by Charlotte Kainerugaba, a national champion of postpartum haemorrhage awareness, during the launch of a blood donation drive at Kololo Ceremonial Grounds on Saturday.
Maternal deaths
Speaking during the event, Mrs Kainerugaba noted that postpartum haemorrhage accounts for 35% of maternal deaths in Uganda, yet they are preventable.
“Excessive bleeding after childbirth has persistently remained the leading and most preventable cause of maternal death in our country,” she said, noting that when a mother bleeds excessively after childbirth, every second counts, stressing the importance of having blood available where and when it is needed.
She cited the case of a maternity ward in-charge who reportedly died after failing to get a blood transfusion in time, despite the blood being available at a regional referral hospital.
She said such gaps in distribution must be addressed. Mrs Kainerugaba also linked maternal vulnerability to anaemia, noting that 50% of women who die of postpartum haemorrhage are anaemic.
She encouraged pregnant women to attend antenatal clinics early, where health workers can monitor them and identify risks early. She encouraged women to eat balanced diets, noting that poor nutrition can contribute to anaemia.
Dr Jolly Beyeza-Kashesya, a senior consultant obstetrician gynaecologist at Mulago Specialised Women and Neonatal Hospital, echoed Mrs Kainerugaba’s call, saying Uganda needs about 450,000 units of blood every year.
One unit of blood is equal to approximately 0.45 to 0.5 litres. She said Uganda loses over 3,000 mothers during childbirth, with about one in three deaths attributed to excessive bleeding.
Beyeza-Kashesya said postpartum haemorrhage is preventable, but survival depends heavily on how quickly a woman receives appropriate care, including blood transfusion.
Currently, Uganda collects roughly 400,000 to 439,000 units of blood each year.
Infrastructure
Dorothy Byabazaire, the executive director of the Uganda Blood Transfusion Service (UBTS), said health workers can only save lives when blood is available to support them.
“A woman should never die during childbirth. It’s unacceptable,” she said.
Byabazaire said the availability of blood is one part of the wider maternal health challenge, noting that delays in reaching health facilities can also contribute to preventable deaths.
Growing demand
She called for greater involvement of local governments in addressing transport challenges. Local Government Minister Balaam Barugahara also backed the blood donation campaign, describing it as a noble initiative that saves lives.
He said the country also needs to expand regional health facilities because some lack sufficient space to accommodate the growing demand for healthcare services.
Expanding access
The Ministry of Health Permanent Secretary, Dr Diana Atwiine, said the Government is taking measures to improve access to emergency healthcare and blood supplies.
She said the Government has built more than 400 health facilities in the last four years and upgraded more than 300 facilities, with some being transformed into community health centres.
Atwiine said Uganda currently has more than 300 ambulances, although the country requires about 200 additional ambulances to strengthen emergency referrals.
The target, she said, is to ensure emergency response can take place within one hour, reducing delays that can determine whether a critically ill patient survives.
About blood availability, Atwiine said government is planning new regional blood banks in Moroto, Jinja and Kabale to extend supplies closer to communities.
Currently, the national blood bank is in Nakasero, Kampala, while the regional ones are in Arua, Gulu, Fort Portal, Masaka, Mbale, and Mbarara.