Patients at risk as blood runs out
Jul 15, 2020
Kakuba says that during the lockdown period, they have been visiting people on an individual basis and whoever responded positively was transported to and from the hospital to donate blood.
HEALTH | COVID-19
Cancer patients, pregnant women and accident victims who are in need of blood transfusion in danger due to shortage of blood.
According to the head of Mengo blood bank, Dr Frank Kakuba, school children used to play a big role in blood donation but due to COVID-19, the percentage lowered.
"We used to get a higher percentage of blood donations from schools but when they closed due to coronavirus, the percentage lowered. This brought us into blood shortage at the hospital." Dr Kakuba added.
Kakuba says during the lockdown period, they have been visiting people on an individual basis and whoever responded positively was transported to and from the hospital to donate blood.
He calls upon all Ugandans between the age of 18-60 to donate blood at least three to four times a year, of which he says will solve the problem of blood shortage at the hospital.
Today the hospital commissioned a new blood testing machine which has replaced the bottlenecks in processing of blood.
The handover event was presided over by the chief executive officer for Stanbic bank, Anne Juuko, Director Mengo hospital Dr Rose Mutumba, Emanuel Katongole, and other guests.
In her words, Juuko says that this is an initiative and non-profit cause of which the bank had to be part of to save lives of people.
She also promised to continue supporting the hospital for the good health of people at large.