Blood Bank registers a shortfall of 90,000 units

Whereas the Uganda Blood Bank is expected to collect an average of 450,000 units of blood, it has registered a shortfall of 20% which translates to 90,000 units. 

Samuel Davis Wante, one of the blood collection team leaders, of Uganda Blood Transfusion Service said they were able to collect 360,000 units in 2021. 

“According to the World Health Organisation, Uganda’s population is estimated to be 45 million people, therefore 450,000 units of healthy blood is expected to be collected annually,” Wante said. 

He was speaking to journalists during a blood donation drive organized by Fabrications Systems on Wednesday. 

Samuel Davis Wante, (left) Guiding A Staff Of Fabrication Systems To Fill The Form. (Photo by Ronnie Kijjambu)

Luke Mawanda, the Marketing Manager at Fabrications Systems said the blood donation drive is meant to help the blood bank collect blood to treat accident patients, child baring mothers, and people with anemia, among others. 

“We have witnessed several accidents by our company staff, especially at construction sites as well as road accidents that happen along the highway next to our offices. That is why we decided to help the blood bank achieve its target of collecting blood,” Mawanda said. 

Mawanda pledged to mobilize people to donate blood since the economy has been fully reopened. 

Uganda Blood Transfusion Services in partnership with Uganda Red Cross has embarked on a sensitization campaign to educate the population on the benefits of donating blood. 

Luke Mawanda (left) Being Recorded For Blood Donation. (Photo by Ronnie Kijjambu)

The organization has 25 field teams across the country with fixed sites at various blood banks and cells. Wante said each team is expected to collect a minimum of 60 units of blood daily. 

The drive is part of this year’s activities meant to commemorate World Blood Donor Day which is celebrated every June 14. “Donating Blood is an Act of Solidarity"

Uganda’s national health system is critical to ensuring a safe and adequate supply of blood from regular, voluntary, and non-remunerated donors. 

51-year-old Dakshesh Shah, the steel division manager at Fabrications Systems said he is a regular blood donor and is motivated to keep donating to save lives. 

Background 

According to health experts, persons eligible to donate blood should weigh 50kgs and above and shouldn’t be fasting. The age bracket for female donors is 17 to 50 years, while men donors should be between 17 to 60 years. 

The individuals who are not eligible to donate are the ones who are on long-term medication for diseases like HIV, hypertension, sickle cells, diabetes, and epilepsy. 

Pregnant and breastfeeding mothers as well as women in their menstrual period are also not eligible to donate blood. Blood is particularly needed for cancer patients, anaemic children, bleeding mothers, and accident victims.