By Kaleb Yiiki

Terego

Yinga Health Centre III authorities are calling for the Operationalization of the International Rescue Committee (IRC) donated Blood fridge that has been idle for about 18 months.

With increasing pressure on the available Medical Resources, Yinga health Center III Located in Yinga Parish, Sub County Terego district, operates as a first Health Referral Point, serving thousands of refugee and host community ppopulation from Imvepi and other settlement camps.

Acute Anaemia as a result of malnutrition compounded by the sky rocketing Malaria positivity rate in children and pregnant mothers warrants the operationalization of the Donated Blood fridge at Yinga health Centre III.

Brian Ayikobua is the Senior Medical Officer at Yinga Health center III and he intimates to Radio Pacis that as the administration of Yinga Health Centre, they have earmarked some room in health facility that will need renovation to install laboratory equipment including the Blood storage fridge.

He continues to state on the Demand for Blood and how best the Blood bank Fridge can be operationalized in that he says Yinga health Center III being a first referral point, has been receiving at least five patients on weekly basis that require blood transfusion as the immediate treatment option to help save their lives.

But due to a longer distance to Omugo health center IV that is about 30-40 Minutes’ Drive from Yinga, It affects the survival of the patients. “If a patient needs to survive because of blood, all we need here is the blood fridge being here and the transfusion facility being available. We need to have a functional lab that is stationed to have these services.” He requests.

    
Brian Ayikobua, Senior Medical Officer at Yinga Health center III

The Terego District Acting Health Officer, Amandson Ongua explains further the demand for this facility in order to operationalize saying malaria is one of the diseases in the District with the highest burden. He continues to elaborate that Acute Malaria affects both Children under five years of age and pregnant mothers. “This brings in complication of loss of blood and once the anaemia level drops to below five, this now warrants blood transfusion. Yinga health center III being deep in the village was better placed to have blood storage facility acquired to help support patients that need blood transfusion”. “We are still in a working progress, aware that we do not have stable power in the District though the electric poles do exist without power. However, if we all put our efforts together to ensure that this unit is functional, it will be   of great help to our children who are under five years of age and the pregnant mothers and any other patient that will require this blood transfusion services.” He recommends.

 
Terego District Acting Health Officer, Amandson Ongua

Yinga Health Centre III Receives at least 5 patients that are in dire need of blood transfusion. Whereas West Nile Region requires 35,000 Units of Blood, the National Blood Unit demand for transfusion stands at 150,000 Blood units per annum.

COVER PHOTO: The Idle Blood Fridge at Yinga Health centre III By Kaleb Yiiki