Uganda 'has enough blood' for emergencies

By Violet Nabatanzi & Kenneth Niwamanya

KAMPALA - Uganda has enough units of blood for patients who are in need of it, officials from the Nakasero blood bank have said.

Speaking ahead of the World Blood Donor Day due on Sunday (June 14), the coordinator central regional, Michael Mukundane said the health facilities are receiving enough blood as per request.

"Although we have got units of blood for patients, we encourage the public to continue donating because blood has a shelf life of only 30 days.”

 The theme of this year's campaign is “Thank you for saving my life”.

"As blood comes to the blood bank, it is tested, processed and distributed to health facilities that are in need of blood," said Mukundane.

It is understood the blood bank has about twenty-two blood teams in the country and each team, according to Mukundane, is expected to collect 50 units of blood every day.

"We also have fixed blood donation centers at Nakasero and Ambassador House where we expect people to go to donate blood at any time."

Life saver
 

People have been encouraged to continue donating blood to save lives of others. (Credit: Godiver Asege)

About 1,000 units of blood is expected to be collected during a two-day blood donation exercise.

Mukundane however warned that patients are not required to donate blood.

“We have a pre-selection exercise for blood donors where a risk assessment is done by counselors – to ensure that blood given to hospital for transfusion is safe.”

"This blood saves lives of expectant mothers with complications, road traffic accident victims, cancer patients, heart patients and sickle cells" explained Mukundane the blood bank official.

Isaac Kiyongo, a blood donor, said he has donated 15 times and that he would continue doing so because he has mercy for lives and therefore cannot look on when people are in hospital suffering.

Eric Kato, a five-time donor and a member of Uganda Red Cross Society, said he donates blood with the aim of motivating those who may have a negative attitude towards blood donation to come up and embrace the exercise.