The Uganda Blood Transfusion Secretariat has expressed concern over low levels of blood available to save lives.

blood donation saves lives

During a meeting with the Deputy Speaker of Parliament, an update on the status of the blood donation drive, UBTS Director Dorothy Kyeyune said the shortages are due to the low levels ofblood donations in the country and lack of money to carry out blood donation’s drives.

She said that although government gives us support, it is not enough and she added that UBTS meets  85 per cent of the blood requirement yet there is increasing need of the same in hospitals around the country

Dr Kyeyune said the national blood bank is short of 190000 units of blood to complete the year.

The bank currently has only 10000 units yet 200000 units are needed for a year.

while addressing the Deputy Speaker, Rebecca Kadaga called on corporate companies and media houses to participate in the blood transfusion drive to ensure that the blood bank get the units of blood it needs to save lives she said that Media houses can help through running free adverts and also organising blood donation days at their premises or taking part in community blood donation drives.

She promised to meet media owners and editors to interest them in the blood drive.

However, Dr Kyeyune said that   It is the community that uses this blood and If the corporate in different companies came up and participated in t he blood transfusion drive, it would make a difference.