Last Updated on: 5th December 2021, 08:36 pm
The appeal for blood donation will take place within Moroto municipality and Napak district to “mark a set-up of the blood collection and distribution center” in the subregion.
By Hopestar Owiny
Moroto—5, December 2021: Doctors with Africa (CUAMM) with funding from the Irish Embassy in Uganda will open “a blood collection and distribution center” in Moroto Regional Referral Hospital this week.
Karamoja sub region for good decades has had no blood donation and distribution center. The crisis forced health facilities within the subregion to collect blood from Lira, Soroti and Mbale regional referral hospitals whenever there is need.
This led to the death of many patients some of whom are victims of excessive bleeding resulting from childbirth, anemic patients and patients who undergo surgical procedures.
CUAMM, an NGO operating in the subregion in partnership with Moroto district health office said they are starting a blood donation drive from tomorrow [Monday, 6] until Sunday 12.
The appeal for blood donation will take place within Moroto municipality and Napak district to “mark a set-up of the blood collection and distribution center” in the subregion.
Martha Ajilong is the blood donor recruiter of the project said, “Blood collection and distribution center will be helpful to the subregion and we will have continuous blood donation drives in order to sustain the project.”
She added they hope to upgrade it to a blood bank with time. For now, she added they will take the blood samples to Soroti and Mbale for screening. “We will conduct donation drives in different districts in Karamoja.”
“It’s a dream we have been chasing after for a long time since blood is a lifesaving component and it is dangerous for the all sub-region to lack such a service,” she said with optimism.
Above is the voice of Martha Ajilo speaking in an exclusive interview.
The district health officer (DHO) of Moroto district, Dr. Hans B. Lokale confirmed the development. “The hospital is fully ready in terms of human resource and equipment to sustain the project.”
“The general public should donate blood whenever called upon because this is also an opportunity for Karamoja to offer blood services to other regions,” Dr. Hans asked for cooperation.