Lifeline for Bunyoro as regional blood bank set for opening

HOIMA - The Hoima Regional Blood Bank in Kasingo, Hoima city is set to be commissioned this Friday (April 11), providing relief for Bunyoro sub-region.

Henry Mutegeki Benda, the manager of the facility, said the blood bank is now fully operational.

Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja will be the chief guest at the commissioning of the facility, he added.

Gilbert Sunday from the national blood bank has been coordinating the construction of this sh4 billion regional bank and said the facility is now fully equipped to store and process blood.

He urged the people from Bunyoro to donate blood to the bank so that it potentially saves the lives of those in need of it.

The blood bank is expected to solve the problem of blood shortages, which has been a major challenge in Bunyoro sub-region.

It is the tenth regional blood bank to be opened by the health ministry. Others are in Arua, Gulu, Fort Portal, Masaka, Mbale, Mbarara, Lira, Jinja and Kabale.

The national blood bank is in Nakasero, Kampala.

The World Health Organization says that of the 118.5 million blood donations collected globally, 40 percent of these are collected in high-income countries, home to 16 percent of the world’s population.

In low-income countries, up to 54 percent of blood transfusions are given to children under five years of age, says the UN health agency.

In high-income countries, the most frequently transfused patient group is over 60 years of age, accounting for up to 76 percent of all transfusions.

According to WHO, based on samples of 1,000 people, the blood donation rate is 31.5 donations in high-income countries, 16.4 donations in upper-middle-income countries, 6.6 donations in lower-middle-income countries and 5.0 donations in low-income countries.