National Social Security Fund (NSSF) has partnered with Uganda Blood Transfusion Services (UBTS) in a blood donation drive to help increase on the stock of blood in Uganda’s medical health facilities.
Under the Ministry of Health, the six-day blood donation drive will take place at the Workers House and the Constitution Square in Kampala from January 20th and 25th.
Ms Geraldine Ssali, the Acting Managing Director NSSF says this blood drive will be open to all those who are eligible to donate blood.
“Through this drive, we expect to collect at least 1,800 units of blood. This drive is part of NSSF’s long term commitment to contribute to the wellbeing of the society for a better future,” Ssali said.
UBTS Director, Dr. Dorothy Kyeyune Byabazaire, has also called on the public to participate in the drive, saying that one unit of blood is enough to save three lives from death.
“Our partnership with NSSF in community mobilization and blood collection has in the last five years made great contribution in saving numerous lives,” Dr. Byabazaire said.
This campaign is one of the Fund’s annual Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives launched in 2010.
However, over the past three years, NSSF and UBTS have collected over 2,370 units from staff, members of the fund and the general public.
In the 2013 campaign, 1,400 units of blood were raised up from 400 units collected in 2012.
Dr Byabazaire says this blood is distributed to different medical health facilities and is used by various categories of people including; children aged 1 to 5 years who are anaemic due to malaria and other illnesses, pregnant women, cancer patients of all ages, sicklers, accident victims, and people living with HIV/AIDS.
This blood donation drive will help bridge the current blood supply gap in Uganda.
