Uganda Red Cross Society, Bunyoro Kingdom embark on blood donation drive in Masindi
He reminded the audience that blood is vital in saving lives at hospitals and stressed that blood donation is a free service, not meant for sale.
Masindi: The Uganda Red Cross Society, in partnership with Uganda Blood Transfusion Services and Bunyoro Kitara Kingdom, is launching a blood donation drive to bring the life-saving activity closer to the community.
On Thursday, Bunyoro Kitara Kingdom Chiefs and other local stakeholders were briefed on the upcoming campaign, which will take place from January 27th to 31st, 2025, in various parishes and villages in Masindi.
The orientation meeting took place at Country Inn Hotel Masindi, where Sarah Mutegombwa, the Uganda Red Cross Society Programs Manager responsible for blood donor recruitment, outlined the goal of mobilizing local communities through cultural institutions.
She emphasized that this approach will help encourage residents to donate blood, particularly in light of the new blood bank established in the Bunyoro region.
“We would like to boost blood donation in this region, particularly because Bunyoro now has a new blood bank. To sustain this blood bank, we need a lot of people to donate blood,” Mutegombwa explained.
She also pointed out that previous blood donation efforts have fallen short of the required targets, with the region only collecting 16,000 units of blood out of a goal of 25,000.
With the new blood bank in Bunyoro, Mutegombwa revealed that the national target for blood donations will increase to 50,000 units in the upcoming financial year, underscoring the urgent need for greater participation in blood donation.
The eligibility criteria for blood donors include individuals aged between 17 and 60, who weigh over 50 kilograms, are in good health, and are not on any medication.
Daniel Kojjo, the Project Officer for Health at Omugo Development Founder under Bunyoro Kitara Kingdom, expressed support for the initiative and highlighted the importance of extending health services to local communities.
Rashid Kasaija, the Kingdom Chief for Central Division, called on the public to embrace the blood donation drive and donate blood in order to save lives.
Felix Twinomugisha, the acting District Health Officer for Masindi, also encouraged the kingdom chiefs and stakeholders to actively support the campaign.
He reminded the audience that blood is vital in saving lives at hospitals and stressed that blood donation is a free service, not meant for sale.
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