PostBank Uganda and the Uganda Blood Transfusion Services(UBTS) have launched a blood donation drive to plug the shortage caused by school holidays.
Speaking during the launch of the drive at PostBank’s headquarters in Kampala, UBTS Executive Director, Dr.Dorothy Kyeyune Byabazaire said with the breaking off by schools, there is going to be a shortage of blood stocks around the country.
“We are going into the festive season and the holiday period and we anticipate to have low blood stocks because our major donors, the schools are on holiday. We therefore need to plan ahead of the festive season to bridge the gap to have enough blood,” Dr. Byabazaire said.
“Access to safe blood is a critical healthcare need in Uganda, essential for saving lives in medical emergencies such as severe anemia, accidents, surgeries, childbirth complications, and chronic conditions like sickle cell disease. With blood having a limited shelf life of only 35 days, there is an ongoing demand for sustained collection efforts.”
She applauded partners like PostBank Uganda for spearheading such a noble cause of hosting us as we engage in the blood donation activity.
Dr.Byabazaire said such a blood donation activity helps UBTS to ensure that there is enough blood in the different health facilities and in the blood-bank reserves so that lives can be saved.
PostBank Uganda Managing Director , Julius Kakeeto rallied Ugandans to donate blood to ensure that health centers have enough blood to save lives.
He said the partnership between UBTS and PostBank will see similar initiatives rolled out across the Northern, Eastern and Western regions of Uganda where the bank has a footprint.
“We all know that many people travel a lot during the festive holidays. Unfortunately, the high road traffic often leads to accidents, and in such moments, blood can mean the difference between life and death. That is why we are calling upon all who are able to, to come and donate blood today so that together, we can save a life. And this call is not only for today, but we encourage them to continuously to do so when an opportunity arises.”
Kakeeto further explained that a sound economy is one where the population is in good health and can actively participate in the different socio-economic activities.
He said this is why, through the bank’s health pillar, which is a key component of our Corporate Social Investment agenda (CSI), there’s need to collaborate with partners like UBTS so that lives can be saved.
“A country needs a highly productive population that actively engages in the different activities within the economy, so that they can grow and prosper. As a bank, our purpose is to foster prosperity for Ugandans and that is why we are advocating for a healthy population who can participate in the country’s development at the different stages, and they can only do so when they are healthy.”
