The minister of health in charge of general duties Sarah Opendi has blamed the recent blood shortage on the fact that schools which are their first source of blood are currently in holidays and the other members of the public are quite skeptical when it comes to donating blood.
“For blood we have no factories, blood comes from human beings and therefore the current shortage is due to two reasons one being that blood is majorly gotten from students in schools and you are aware that the children are now in holidays and it’s a bit complicated,” Ms Opendi said.
The minister appealed to adult Ugandans to develop a culture of donating blood and not leave the same for school going children alone.
“I really want to appeal to Ugandans please we need blood in our hospitals. We have high road accidents and we need blood transfusions for lives to be saved such as of mothers especially during delivery, we also have a high sickle cell burden and the sicklers need blood at some point,” she added.
The minister also highlighted financial shortage of up to Shs 7billion which she says government provided the last financial year in supplementary funding but didn’t avail the same this financial year.
The minister says this is part of what is causing the very shortage that the country suffered last year.
She however is optimistic that the ministry of finance will be availing them this money considering that their negotiations for supplementary funding of up to 7billion are concluded.
“We have had discussions with ministry of finance and I want to assure Uganda that this money will now be availed in a short while and blood will be available’.
