It is understandable that all our attention has been turned towards the raging pandemic but 16 women bringing new life into this world today may not see another sunrise because there was no blood to save their lives. Only five pints of blood could save them all. We can all do something to save them!

The World Blood Donor Day – Ms Anne Lumbasi

Today CEHURD joins the world to give a resounding applause to the voluntary unpaid blood donors who answer the call of humanity and save lives that would otherwise perish. This year’s theme for the World Blood Donor Day is “Give Blood and Keep the World Beating” Did you know that one pint of blood that you donate can save 3 lives! In the words of Anne Frank “No one has ever become poor by giving”. We appreciate the thousands of men and women who willingly give this essential life-saving commodity that keeps the world pulsating even amidst this pandemic.

Like many things, the pandemic has impacted on the daily blood collections especially with the closure of schools which are major platforms for blood donation drives. We should not forget that despite the pandemic, life goes on! Women and girls are still giving birth and in need of blood, cancer patients and children with anemia heavily rely on blood and its commodities, not to mention hospitals are still receiving accident victims in need of this life saving commodity. 

Blood shortage in health facilities is believed to be one of the major factors contributing to high death rates among women and young girls giving birth. According to the Annual Health Sector Performance Report (AHSPR) 2017/2018, hemorrhage was the leading cause of maternal deaths accounting at 48.5% almost half of the deaths reported. Anemia was also ranked 3rd among the leading causes of death while injuries from road accidents was ranked the 6th which all require availability of blood.   

Throughout this pandemic, hospitals have struggled with a critical shortage of blood which is affecting services and putting the lives of many Ugandans at risk every day. It is understandable that all our attention has been turned towards the raving pandemic but 16 women bringing new life into this world today may not see another sunrise because there was no blood to save their lives. Only five pints of blood could save them all. We can all do something to save them!

The Uganda Blood Transfusion Services (UBTS) is faced with numerous challenges that make it extremely difficult to meet the national blood collection target which is equivalent to 1% of Uganda’s population per annum as recommended by the World Health Organization. In fact, challenges such as limited funding and lack of human resources were aggravated by the pandemic but UBTS had to innovate to ensure the daily collection continues and that lives are not needlessly lost. They brought blood donation drives closer to the people within communities, called on previous donors and partnered with Organisations to have staff donate blood.

A day like this is meant to raise awareness about the existing need for blood and to appreciate all blood donors for that precious priceless life-saving gift. This life saving commodity cannot be manufactured so CEHURD together with the world is clapping for you and you. A pint of blood can go so far! May we all continue to keep the world beating by giving!You can book an appointment to give blood by calling The Uganda Blood Transfusion Services on their toll free line O800 122 422.

The writer is a Senior program officer at the Center for Health, Human Rights and Development (CEHURD).

  1. naturfally like your webssite however you hhave to teest tthe
    spelling on several of yyour posts. Manyy oof thewm aare rijfe wit spelling provlems and I inn finding itt very ttroublesome tto infoprm the
    trtuth then again I’ll sujrely come again again.

  2. Hi there would yyou mind leyting me kow whihh hostinbg
    company you’re utilizing? I’ve loaded your blog iin 3 different weeb browsers and I must sayy tbis blog loads a llot faster then most.
    Caan youu recommend a goiod inyernet hosting provideer at a reasonable
    price? Thank you, I appreciate it!

  3. Heey there would you mind sharng whiich blogg plaatform
    you’re using? I’m looking too start my oown bloig iin the nnear
    fyture but I’m hhaving a hard time decidijg between BlogEngine/Wordpress/B2evolution and Drupal.
    Thee rreason I ask is becuse your layout sseems differdent then moost
    blobs and I’m looking for something completely unique.
    P.S Apologiees ffor being off-topic butt I hadd to ask!

  4. May I simply ssay what a comffort tto discover somebody that really understands what they aare discusseing on tthe internet.
    Yoou actually realize how tto bring ann
    issue tto light aand make iit important. More and ore people ought to chek this out and understand thos
    sise oof ylur story. I can’t believe you’re not more popular given thatt you mosst
    cerrtainly have the gift.

  5. It’s goin to be end oof mine day, however before
    finish I amm reading this great artile to improvee
    my know-how.

  6. Do you have a spam problem on this site; I also amm
    a blogger, and I was wwondering your situation; we hve developed
    skme nnice proceedures aand wee are looking to exchange tecxhniques with other folks, be
    ssure to shoot mee aan e-mail iff interested.

  7. Amazinhg things here. I’m verdy happy too see your article.
    Thank yyou a lot annd I am taking a loo ahead to touch you.
    Wiill you kinjdly drop mee a mail?

  8. My brotherr suggested I ight like this blog. He was tootally right.
    This popst actually madee my day. You can nnot imagie justt how much ttime I had spent for this information! Thanks!

  9. %%

    Look into my web page :: Tech

  10. My brother recommended I would possibly like this blog.
    He used to be totally right. This post truly made my day.
    You can not consider simply how so much time I had spent
    for this information! Thanks!

    Also visit my blog post; Bath Mesothelioma Settlement

  11. %%

    Here is my website; car accident compensation easton (vimeo.Com)

  12. %%

    My web-site truckee cerebral palsy (Rosemarie)

  13. %%

    Feel free to visit my web blog; holmes beach asbestos (Vimeo.com)

  14. %%

    Also visit my web-site: st. charles prescription drugs (vimeo.com)

  15. Do you have a spam issue on this site; I also am a blogger, and I was
    wondering your situation; we have developed some nice practices and we are looking to
    exchange strategies with others, please shoot me an email if interested.

    Review my web-site :: Mesothelioma Attorney archbald

  16. %%

    Also visit my web page :: sidney injury

  17. Amazing issues here. I’m very satisfied to see your post.

    Thanks so much and I am looking ahead to contact you. Will you please drop
    me a e-mail?

    My page :: mesothelioma case in montevallo

  18. %%

    Feel free to visit my homepage – Acworth boat Accident

  19. %%

    Here is my site – schererville auto accident [Arnulfo]

  20. Neat blog! Is your theme custom made or did you download it from somewhere?
    A theme like yours with a few simple adjustements would really make my
    blog shine. Please let me know where you got your design. Appreciate it

    Look at my web blog – mesothelioma litigation keyser – https://vimeo.com/775960192,

  21. %%

    Also visit my website cameron workers’ Compensation (Vimeo.com)

  22. Thanks very interesting blog!

    my web-site – mesothelioma case in old westbury, Eartha,

  23. %%

    Also visit my webpage; Lottery Hongkong; Chaoxz.com,

  24. %%

    Here is my page; leland boat accident (Robby)

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.

You may use these <abbr title="HyperText Markup Language">HTML</abbr> tags and attributes: <a href="" title=""> <abbr title=""> <acronym title=""> <b> <blockquote cite=""> <cite> <code> <del datetime=""> <em> <i> <q cite=""> <s> <strike> <strong>