By Hannah Marion Namukasa
Uganda Aviation Academy (UAA) on Friday partnered with Miss Uganda and Uganda Blood Transfusion Services (UBTS) to mobilize blood amidst the growing demand in hospitals across the country.
Recently, reports indicated that there is blood shortage in major hospitals in the country, which has delayed, even halted life – saving leading to death of some patients.
The one-day exercise was held at the school facility located on Entebbe Road, Metropole building In Kampala where ninety-five (95) units of blood were donated.
The blood donation drive was organized under the theme: “Saving Road Accident Victims and expectant mothers”
Uganda Blood Transfusion Services (UBTS), is the body mandated to conduct blood donor recruitment and mobilization countrywide while Uganda Aviation Academy is an institution in Uganda, which conducts civil Aviation training.
While Uganda needs about 400,000 units of blood annually to meet the blood needs of the country according to the World Health Organization, it does not meet this requirement most times due to several factors including lack of information and discouraging cultural and religious beliefs.
Esther Yapkoreny, the Uganda Aviation Academy’s principal, reaffirmed the institution’s commitment to supporting life-saving and improving initiatives, such as blood donation. “Our dream is to create a future with more cheers,” Esther.
Esther also revealed that the blood donation campaign would enable the company to draw attention to road safety during this period since accident victims have been identified as among the patients needing blood most. Uganda Traffic Police statistics show 218 people were killed in road crashes between 18th January – July 6th this year alone.
Hannah Karema Tumukunde, Miss Uganda 2023/4 thanked Aviation Academy for coming up with such a great idea that can save a life and asked the board to think of extending the drive countrywide.
“I would wish to see this Blood donation drive program in other parts of the country, I request UBTS and Uganda Aviation Academy to take it as far as Eastern Uganda, Western Uganda, west Nile a, and Northern Uganda District where I will also personally participate.
The Uganda Aviation Academy Vice-Chairperson, Dr. Captain Mike Mukula while addressing the media said the partnership with Miss Uganda and UBTS for the blood donation drive is in line with the Authority’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) policy that focuses on interventions in Healthcare and Sanitation, Road Safety, Education, Maternal Sustainability Health.
He added that Uganda Aviation Academy and Miss Uganda are pleased to have contributed to this life-saving initiative that will impact hundreds of Ugandans with a new lease of life.
“I call upon Government most especially the Ministry of Health to establishment blood banks in different parts of the country so that we have enough blood in stock”- Mukula noted
Mukula further noted that there is increased demand for blood in the city due to the numerous road crashes with statistics indicating 10 deaths for every 100,000 people, involving majorly Boda Bodas.
“There for as a senior Citizen together with Miss Uganda we opted to have a blood drive donation in the middle of the city to be part of saving a life”- Mukula.
