US in blood drive to save lives of Ugandans

By Henry Sekanjako

In response to the recent blood shortage in the country, the United States of America (USA) Embassy in Uganda has carried out a voluntary blood donation among its staff members to collect blood for the Uganda blood transfusion service (UBTS).

According to the US ambassador, Scott Delisi, the blood donation drive by the Embassy was to ensure steady supply of blood in hospitals for pregnant mothers, children, and people living with HIV among other Ugandans.

“We care about the health sector in Uganda, we have read stories of poor Ugandans dying because of lack of blood in hospitals so we decided to donate blood to save lives of Ugandans,” said Scott.

He said the US Embassy was working with the National Medical Stores and National Drug Authority to import additional blood test kits from Kenya to ensure adequate supply of blood in hospitals.

“The outstanding partnership between the Center for Disease control and the Uganda blood transfusion service has made strides in improving Uganda’s ability to provide blood to the nation,” he said.

Scott added: “between 2004 and 2010, the UBTS received nearly received 24 million dollars from the American people through the US president’s emergency plan for AIDS relief and CDC to support the provision of safe blood and blood products health facilities throughout the country”.

He noted that there was need for effective cooperation between the Ugandan government and other stakeholders to stamp out malaria among other preventable diseases which have continued to claim lives of Ugandans.

“We care and that is what we stand for as a nation. Don’t wait for government to fix everything people should learn to give back to the community,” said Scott.

About 50 US Embassy staff participated in the blood donation drive.

The country was recently hit by blood shortage which forced institutions like the heart institute to halt operations due to lack of enough blood to run the facility.