10,000 units of blood needed during festive season
Dec 24, 2019
The major blood donors in the country have been students who are now in their holidays
To avoid shortage of blood supply during the festive season, Uganda Red Cross Society has appealed to Ugandans to donate blood.
According to the secretary-general of Uganda Red Cross Society, Robert Kwesiga, at least 10,000 units of blood are needed during the two-week period.
"We want to see more responsible Ugandans donate blood. Blood is only got from people, please respond to our call," Kwesiga said during a press conference at the entity's headquarters in Rubuga, Kampala.
To meet the target, the Uganda Red Cross Society in partnership with Uganda Blood Transfusion Services has rolled out a campaign meeting different communities across the country to donate blood.
Sarah Mutegombwa, the blood donor recruitment manager, explained that 2,000 of units are required every day and one out of seven patients visiting the hospitals need a blood transfusion.
The Uganda Red Cross Society secretary general Robert Kwesiga (left) and Sarah Mutegombwa addressing a press briefing in Rubaga. Photo by Francis Emorut
She said the major blood donors have been students who are in their holidays and therefore, appealed to Ugandans to donate blood during the festive season to save lives.
"70% of the blood collected across the country is from students who are on holiday. We run a risk of having insufficient blood," Mutegombwa said.
Uganda Red Cross Society has also deployed its staff along accident hotspots for emergency response to offer first aid, referral and managing scenes of accidents.
The hotspots include Kampala-Masaka, Kampala-Jinja and Kampala-Gulu highways, Masindi, Kabarole and Mityana towns among others.
Kampala-Luweero -Gulu highway ranks top in the country with 225 accidents followed by Kampala-Masaka highway. The Police report of 2018 indicates 3,500 accidents occurred in the calendar year.
During the festive season, Ugandans drive to different destinations across the country to celebrate Christmas and New Year and Kwesiga cautioned drivers against reckless driving.