'With each unit of blood you donate, you save four children'

The newly constructed Hoima Regional Blood Bank in Uganda's west has collected 100 units of blood from walk-in blood donors since November last year.

That is an equivalent of 45 litres of blood collected so far.

The facility, built at a cost of sh4 billion, is located in Kasingo parish in Hoima city. It was handed over by the contractor to Hoima Regional Referral Hospital in November last year ahead of its official commissioning.

With a capacity of 50,000 units, the blood bank was constructed by the government to serve Bunyoro sub-region.

Henry Benda, the Albertine regional co-ordinator for Uganda Blood Transfusion Services (UBTS), said the new blood bank has been receiving walk-in donors since its handover.

Mult-billion Hoima Regional Blood Bank at Kasingo in Hoima City. (Credit: Ambrose Niwagaba Katoto)

They are now encouraging more people in Bunyoro to donate life-saving blood.

According to Benda, people who are supposed to donate blood are those aged 18 and above, those not receiving any treatment, and women who are at the time having their menstrual periods.

Above all, anyone who wishes to donate blood must be healthy.

One of the people to have donated blood at Hoima Regional Blood Bank is Hoima City Woman MP Asinansi Nyakato.

She donated a unit of blood on Friday.

While at it, she urged her fellow leaders and other community members to walk in and donate blood at the regional blood bank so as to save the lives of especially mothers and children.

"Doctors have told me that each unit you donate, you save four children at the regional hospital," she said.

"Let us make use of this blood bank such that it does not become a white elephant."

Some of the walk-in blood donors donate blood. (Credit: Ambrose Niwagaba Katoto)

The legislator's was a similar call sounded by Benda, who rallied the people of Bunyoro to always walk in and donate blood to ensure that blood is available all the time.

"Many people left blood donation to students, but remember children are in holidays. So when we receive walk-in donors like what the Member of Parliament has done, it saves many lives. For instance, recently we sent blood to Kyenjojo accident victims."

Benda said the facility has been equipped to facilitate the separation of blood into various components such as platelets and fresh frozen plasma (FFP).

"We have started separation of blood components like FFP, which are given to women giving birth to stimulate factors to stop too much bleeding."

Previously, Hoima Regional Referral Hospital depended on the regional bank in Fort Portal (Rwenzori sub-region) and the Nakasero Blood Bank in Kampala.

Hoima Regional Blood Bank was built to serve the Bunyoro sub-region districts of Kiryandongo, Buliisa, Masindi, Hoima, Kikuube, Kagadi, Kakumiro, Kibaale and Hoima City.