Uganda needs sh1.8b to collect enough blood
Aug 10, 2013
The country needs sh1.8b to carry out blood collection operations, UBTS director, Dorothy Kyeyune says.
By Paul Kiwuuwa
KAMPALA - The country needs sh1.8 billion to carry out blood collection operations, the Uganda Blood Transfusion services (UBTS) director, Dorothy Kyeyune says.
Appearing before the parliamentary committee on health chaired by Magaret Iriama (Moroto), Kyeyune said UBTS may not achieve this financial year's target of 242,000 units of safe blood if government does not provide the funds for blood collection.
Asked if there is blood shortage countrywide, Kyeyune maintained that there is no impending threat of blood shortage.
She explained that in order to avail the above-mentioned targeted units of safe blood for the financial year 2013/2014, a total recurrent budget of sh19.242billion is required.
Mid-this year, there emerged worrying reports of shortage of blood in major hospitals around the country, prompting some groups to initiate blood donation drives to help avert the situation.
A medic at Kawolo Hospital in June told New Vision that patients in need of transfusion have to be referred to Mulago Hospital in Kampala.
Dr. Michael Osinde of Jinja Hospital revealed around the same time that atleast five children died due to the blood crisis.
The health facility had been short of blood since the start of this year, another doctor said.
Amid this crisis, there emerged explanations to the critical health situation. Nakasero Blood Bank explained that the blood shortage in the country was due to an influx of patients from neighbouring countries.
Facing the parliamentary committee on health, Kyeyune explained that UBTS tests for blood grouping and transmissible infections like HIV, Hepatitis and syphilis.
She pointed out that UBTS has only 20 mobile blood collection teams, which she said, is not enough to meet the high demand for blood in hospitals and health centres.
“We need more mobile blood collection teams to provide an additional 23,760 units of blood annually."
The committee will discuss the funding gap in Parliament to avail the funds.
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