Efforts to increase blood donations to save lives ongoing

 

 

At the end of the session that was held at City Square in the city center, at least 200 units of blood were collected, according to the EICA general secretary Vijay Raghunath.

 

The drive, however, also attracted Ugandans who turned up in large numbers to donate to the Blood Transfusion Services that has been in trying to stock blood, which is said to be in great demand currently.  

 

"There has been increased number of road accidents during which blood has been shed coupled with mothers losing blood during births, leave alone ordinary patients all of whom demand blood transfusion as a means of saving a life," Sinha Arvind, Chief Guest at the donation occasion from the United States of America said.

 

 (L-R) Sinha Arvind, Sigh Roshan and Vijay Raghunath interacting with friends who had come for the blood donation drive at City square in Kampala

He said blood shortage has continued to paralyse operations in many hospitals across the country, forcing health workers to suspend some procedures that require a blood transfusion.

 

Arvind, from the East Indian Cultural Association Limited, said they decided to mobilize within themselves to donate blood to support the vulnerable people.

 

He said blood donation camps would be held every three months in various places within Kampala.

 

Arvind called upon the local community to always participate in the drive, saying it would one day save their relatives.

 

EICA general secretary Vijay Raghunath said people donate blood on their own will to save the lives of Ugandans who may require blood. He said they were targeting about 300 people.

 

"The collected blood will be taken to the blood banks to help Ugandans," he said.

 

 Participants who had come to donate blood registering. PHOTO: Michael Odeng

Raghunath said medical doctors should be sensitized on the dangers of selling blood to patients, saying it is meant to be free.

 

Sigh Roshan, Cultural secretary said, "Nobody is forced to donate blood. People do it on their own will".

 

"It is very bad to sell blood. Let prevent those medical workers from doing it for the benefit of our blood camp social cause," he said.

 

He encouraged the public to be vigilant and report the matter to the relevant authorities including blood bank so that the culprits are reprimanded.