By Ambrose Rwakibinga
Uganda Development Bank (UDB) staff and customers plus partners on Thursday kick-started a blood donation campaign, at the UDB Head Office located on Rwenzori Towers in Kampala.
Mr. Mwesiga Allan Joshua, UDB Director for Strategy and Corporate Affairs, told journalists during a press conference that Uganda require 500,000,000 Units of blood annually to meet the demand from people in dire need of blood. He said Ugandans currently donate 30,000,000 annually which is equivalent to 1 percent of the blood required by the country.
“UDB is carrying out this annual blood donation campaign in partnership with Mengo Rotary Blood Bank and ATC Uganda because blood is important to save lives”, he said. He said UDB staff, customers and members of the public are encouraged to donate blood during the ongoing campaign.
Ms. Dorothy Semanda, ATC Uganda Chief Executive Officer, said road accidents, mostly by Boda Boda Cyclists contribute to the high demand of blood in hospitals and other health facilities.
Ms. Semanda also cited pregnant mothers and people with blood deficiency as being targets of people in dire need of blood at all times. She cautioned medics across the country, especially those operating private health facilities to refrain from the habit of selling blood to patients.
“Blood is not for sale and whoever sells it does commit a crime punishable by Ugandan laws”, she said.
Mr. Ariho D. Franco, Blood Donor Recruiter at Mengo Rotary Blood Bank, said only healthy people are required to donate blood. He said pregnant mothers, people with sickle cells, cancer and those below 50 kilograms of weight are not supposed to donate blood.
Mr. Ariho said healthy women from the age of 17 to 50 are eligible to donate blood, while healthy men between the age of 17 and 60 are also eligible to donate blood.