National blood bank faces shortage
May 20, 2009
THE country is facing a blood shortage of more than 70,000 units, officials from the Uganda Blood Transfusion Service said yesterday.
By Fortunate Ahimbisibwe
THE country is facing a blood shortage of more than 70,000 units, officials from the Uganda Blood Transfusion Service said yesterday.
Henry Bukenya, the blood donor mobiliser based at the Nakasero Blood Bank in Kampala, said on Tuesday that the bank had embarked on a national exercise to raise over 200,000 units of blood.
Bukenya was speaking during blood donation organised by Aya Investments, the owners of the Hilton Kampala Hotel.
The hotel is located on the land formerly owned by the Uganda Broadcasting Corporation.
Bukenya said the bank needed 200,000 units of blood to supply all the health centres across the country. If people and organisations don’t respond by donating blood, the officials said, even Mulago, the largest hospital, would be affected.
More than 300 units of blood were collected from the employees at the hotel site. A unit of blood is equivalent to half a litre.
THE country is facing a blood shortage of more than 70,000 units, officials from the Uganda Blood Transfusion Service said yesterday.
Henry Bukenya, the blood donor mobiliser based at the Nakasero Blood Bank in Kampala, said on Tuesday that the bank had embarked on a national exercise to raise over 200,000 units of blood.
Bukenya was speaking during blood donation organised by Aya Investments, the owners of the Hilton Kampala Hotel.
The hotel is located on the land formerly owned by the Uganda Broadcasting Corporation.
Bukenya said the bank needed 200,000 units of blood to supply all the health centres across the country. If people and organisations don’t respond by donating blood, the officials said, even Mulago, the largest hospital, would be affected.
More than 300 units of blood were collected from the employees at the hotel site. A unit of blood is equivalent to half a litre.