By Obbo Yusuf
The Indian community in Jinja and Buikwe districts has launched a blood donation campaign targeting 10,000 units, more than triple its previous target of 3,000 units, amid concerns over blood shortages in hospitals.
The campaign, held at Yogi Steel Company, is being conducted in factories across the two districts as part of efforts to increase blood supplies and save lives.
Mr Gurcharan Singh, the joint secretary of the Indian community, said the campaign had so far covered about half of the targeted factories in Jinja and Buikwe, with encouraging turnout from workers.
“We have a target of 10,000 units compared to 3,000 units in previous years. The turnout has been good, and we have already covered 50 per cent of the factories in both districts,” Mr Singh said.
He added that the community had previously exceeded its target of 25,000 units in Kampala but intended to go beyond that figure because of the continuing demand for blood.
Mr Ripson Kennedy, the secretary of the Indian community in Jinja, urged factories to participate in the campaign, saying blood donations were essential to saving lives.
Emmanuel Nasimolo, a representative of the Busoga Regional Blood Bank, said the annual campaign was necessary to help meet blood collection targets through partnerships with private companies.
He said schools, which are among the biggest blood donors, often become unavailable during holidays, creating a gap in blood collection.
“That is why we engage partners like companies to help us meet the numbers we need,” Mr Nasimolo said.
Ms Jane Ajako, a worker at Victoria Group of Companies, encouraged eligible members of the public to donate blood, questioning why hospitals continue to face shortages despite Uganda’s large population.
“It’s worrying that with a population of about 30 million people, we can still have blood scarcity in hospitals,” she said.
Ms Caroline Ikome, the corporate affairs representative at Victoria Group of Companies, said the company participates in the annual blood drive as part of its community support initiatives.
She said the campaign particularly targets pregnant women who may require blood during childbirth.
“We want pregnant mothers to reach hospitals when blood is available. When blood is not available locally, patients may have to travel to Kampala, and that distance can cost someone their life,” Ms Ikome said.
