Gov't should suspend health workers who sell blood - Tailor

Dec 14, 2018

Tailor proposed that health workers who demand money for blood should be given a six- months-suspension.

 
The Indian Community in Uganda has called upon the government to suspend medical personnel who sell blood to patients in hospitals.
 
Led by Owekitiibwa Rajin Tailor, the former President of the Hindu Council of Africa made the call Thursday during a blood donation camp, where they took part at City square in Kampala.
 
The blood donation camp was organised by the East Indian Cultural Association Limited, one of the members of the Indian Association, supported by ABC Capital Bank Uganda and Jubilee Insurance Company.
 
Tailor proposed that health workers who demand money for blood should be given a six- months-suspension.
 
"In case of a life and death situation, you have no option but to pay for blood, but after recovering, you can report it to the relevant authorities," he advised.

L-R (kumar Amltesh, ABC Capital Bank executive director, Jesse Timbwa and East Indian Culture Association chairman Tiwari Santosh, posing for a picture during the blood donation camp at City Square in Kampala

"When you need blood from a blood bank or any hospital, you get it for free because there is a need to save people's life."
 
Tailor revealed that the Indian Association has been engaged in collecting blood and giving it to the blood bank for the last 20 years. 
 
He revealed that last year they collected more than 12,000 units of blood, adding that they expect to collect 20, 000 units this year from both Indians and Ugandans from different parts of the country.
 
Tailor urged Ugandans to support Indians in donation of blood. 
 
"For example, I am almost 67 years and I have been donating blood every three months for 30 years," Tailor said.
 
Dr. Samuel Wante, the clinical team leader from Nakasero blood bank said there is no reason why medical personnel demand money for blood because both the government and private hospitals receive the blood from Nakasero blood bank free of charge.
 
"There is a challenge of people saying they buy blood in some hospitals which is an unacceptable," he said.
 
He encouraged the public to be vigilant and report the matter to the relevant authorities including blood banks so that the culprits are reprimanded.
 

  Indians donating blood during the drive at the city Square in Kampala  

 
Wante revealed that the blood bank is meant to collect 25, 000 units of safe blood every month. He revealed that a unit of blood costs government 45 dollars (about sh166,000).
 
"As we are experiencing a crisis of blood every after November, December and February various companies have come up to support blood bank like the Indian Association," Wante said.
 
Tiwari Santosh, the chairman of East Indian Culture Association said they were targeting 200 liters.  He said they organise the camp quarterly with the Indian Association.
 
ABC Capital Bank executive director Jesse Timbwa said the bank supports blood donation because it is a noble cause.
 
He said urged the public to donate blood, saying it is good to have sufficient blood banks particularly in the areas which do not have blood.

 

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