 The National Social Security Fund (NSSF) has organised a five-day blood donation drive expected to yield about 1000 units of blood. The exercise, which started yesterday at Workers House, will continue until Friday 26th February 2010.
NSSF Deputy Chief Marketing and Communication Officer, Mrs. Olive Lumonya said that the five day exercise that will attract not only NSSF staff but also the general public.
‘’We have so far registered over 70 staff from all our offices around Kampala who will voluntarily donate blood to save lives. As a socially responsible organization, we want to encourage our staff to be part of initiatives to better the lives of people in the community by contributing to the well being of those in need of blood,” Mrs. Lumonya said.
NSSF has organised the exercise in conjunction with the Uganda Blood Transfusion Services (UBTS) and Nakasero Blood Bank. This is in response to an appeal by UBTS for more blood to offset the shortage in the national blood bank.
This is the second blood donation drive being organized by NSSF in as many years; the first took place in February 2009.
Mrs. Lumonya added: ‘’with this initiative we are joining hands with the blood bank to save lives through providing safe blood. Throughout the five days, we expect to collect 800 to 1000 units of blood. All blood donors will also get to know their blood groups and HIV/AIDS status, if they so wish.’’
.jpg) Recent media reports indicated that there is a severe shortage, of blood countrywide, resulting in an overwhelming number of referral cases from up-country hospitals Mulago Hospital. Although blood in Uganda has a shelf life of up to 35 days, there is always need for more blood for children (especially malaria cases), sicklers, cancer patients, pregnant mothers and accident victims, among others.
The exercise will take place daily from 22nd to 26th February 2010, Workers House Ground Floor Lobby. Individuals from neighbouring organisations and community have also been invited to take part.
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