The Health Ministry has launched a national blood drive to deal with the effects of malaria including severe anemia that has been recorded in various parts of the country.
The #DonateBloodToDriveOutMalaria campaign was officially launched at the Ministry of Health headquarters in Kampala.
Hon. Dr. Kaducu during a press conference held at the launch indicated that “65% districts are currently battling an upsurge of Malaria” the districts affected include, Gulu, amur, Arua, Agago, Yumbe, Oyam, Amudat, Kabong, Kanungu, Kibale, Masindi, Kamwenge, Sironko, Buyende, Kasanda, Rakai,Mityana, Kampala etc.
Dr. Dorothy Kyeyune – UBTS stressed “the upsurge is stretching the blood bank and we hope that by end of 3 months we will double our collection to be able to meet the demand, we need blood every minute, every hour and every day”. It should be noted that about 80% of blood in Uganda is donated by schools, market vendors and boda boda cyclists, corporates account for only 8%!
The former are in holidays and therefore extend our to all corporates (individuals and companies) to be counted right now by donating blood this drive. Blood is a parachute of life when you need it, you need it to live and you are definitely someone’s type.
Currently, there are 25,000 units in the country, the drive is aiming at collecting 50,000 units by the end of November.
The campaign is supported by Rotarian Malaria Partners Uganda. The chairman Board Rotarian Ken Mugisha “Rotary is an Action Group and we are looking at ending malaria in Uganda, there are greater successes where we have worked like in Zambia, we cannot eliminate malaria without advocacy”.
Rotarian Malaria Partners Uganda donated Tents, PA systems, Weighing Scales and BP machines among others to facilitate the blood donation drive across the country for 3 months.
State Minister Sarah Opendi and Mr. Solomon Osiya – Director Rotarian Malaria Partners Uganda were among the first people to donate blood at MoH Headquarters.