INDIAN COMMUNITY IN WEST NILE PROMOTES LIFE SAVING THROUGH BLOOD DONATION

Uganda Blood Transfusion Services (UBTS) staff pricking a donor to get his blood. (PHOTO BY EREMA)

By Erema George

Arua City

The annual blood donation drive organized by the Indian Community in West Nile to commemorate the independence day of India continues to boost blood donation as stakeholders express gratitude to the community of the Indians living in the region.

The initiative that began in 2017 has reportedly grown famous in West Nile with an annual increase in the numbers of units of blood, marking a significant milestone in savings lives through blood donation.

At the closure of the two days camp in commemoration of the 80th Independence Day of India at Ayivu division headquarters —Onduparaka, Robert Owinji Onyol, the regional focal person blood donor recruitment for West Nile under Ugandan Red Cross Society (URCS)testified that the consistency by the Indian Community has enabled an increase in the numbers of units of blood. He however calls on the beneficiaries of the blood to be ambassadors of blood donation in the region;

“We’ve been carrying out this activity for over five years now and each and every time, the numbers of units have been increasing.” Owinji noted

“To our final consumers, the patients in the hospital, we pray that this blood that you are going to get from the person who has given you a second chance in life give you healing, it is something so precious and we encourage you to be ambassadors of blood donation, next time when you get well wherever you will be. We encourage the families that have ever had patients who needed blood transfusion and were able to get the blood transfusion to take up the responsibility of mobilizing other family members to also come and take part in this noble activity of blood donation,” he appealed.

Obeti Abele Noel, a blood donor recruiter at Uganda Blood Transfusion Services, Arua blood Bank equally testifies that initiative like donation camps boosts donations.

“Research has shown that every two seconds, someone is in need of blood so such kinds of initiatives help us to collect a lot of units of blood, support our community members who are struggling in the hospital. We welcome different initiatives or community members to come and support such activities because it’s through such engagements that we are able to realize a good amount of blood,” Abele said.

Some of the Blood donors comfortably donating blood at the camp on the last day at Onduparaka. (PHOTO BY EREMA)

The area councilor Adalafu Ward, Ayivu division Gift Ayikobua appreciated the Indian Community; “It is a big move because they (Indian community) are saving the lives of our people and we know some times in Arua Regional Referral Hospital, and in the blood bank we get shortages of blood and yet we have many road accidents, we have children who are born weakly who need blood, even those who are sick admitted in the medical ward may all need blood but initially the issue of shortage has been rampant.” Ayikobua noted.

According to Mr. Raj, the chairperson Indian Community, the drive that began with about 190 units of blood in 2017 has since grown bigger noting that they are targeting more districts next time;

“Since we started in 2017 up to now we have been succeeding and always positive response is there from the community, and thanks to the donors who supported us, we really thank our people of Arua and the whole of West Nile for supporting this cause. Next year we want to target Koboko, Paidha, Nebbi all the towns also.”

One of the Indian nationals who stepped in to donate blood in show of solidarity at OPM grounds in arua city. (PHOTO BY EREMA)

One unit of blood can save up to three lives according to Major health organizations like the World Health Organization.

This year’s donation was scheduled on two different days and venues with 1204 units collected on 15th at OPM grounds Arua City and 431 units collected on 16th at Onduparaka totaling to an overall 1635 units slightly higher than 1100 units realized last year.

Written by newsroom-radiopacis