Etop starts blood donation drive in Soroti

PIC: People donating blood at Etop premises in Soroti on Tuesday. (Emmanuel Alomu)

SOROTI - The blood donation drive organised by Etop, an affiliate of Vision Group, in conjunction with Uganda Blood Transfusion Services (UBTS) and Soroti Regional Referral Hospital kicked off on Tuesday.

Since the exercise started at 10:00am, over 40 people had turned up for blood donation by midday, with promise for a bigger turnout.

Martha Ajilong, a blood recruiter, said the blood collected at Etop premises will be used to save the lives of people in health facilities.

"We shall use the blood to save  accident victims, babies and pregnant mothers," Ajilong said.
 
Samuel Olato, the director of Otuka Pharmaceuticals in Soroti town, brought five of his family members and friends to donate blood in response to the acute blood shortage in the hospitals.

"The media has been reporting about the blood crisis, but when I went to Soroti Regional Referral Hospital on Monday, I saw people dying due to lack of blood. I will bring more people to donate blood," Olato said.
 
Attendees lauded the move by Etop and called on others to embrace it.

"I have done my part, other people should also come and donate blood because there is no factory that manufactures blood. Today may be me and tomorrow someone else," Samuel Opio Giging, a participant, said.
 
The blood donation drive that kicked off today at Etop premises will continue up to Friday.

Justus Aporu Akol, the officer in charge promotions at Etop Radio, said the move is aimed at giving back to the community.

Akol hopes that the drive will yield atleast 200 units of blood.