Kampala, Uganda: Uganda Aviation Academy (UAA) on 13th January 2023 teamed up with the Uganda Blood Transfusion Services (UBTS) to mobilize blood amid its growing demand in hospitals across the country.
Recently, reports indicated that there is a blood shortage which has it major hospitals in the country, this has delayed, even halted life – saving & in some cases patients have died.
Uganda Blood Transfusion Services (UBTS), is the body mandated to conduct blood donor recruitment and mobilization countrywide while Uganda Aviation Academy is an institution in Uganda, wich conducts civil Aviation trainings.
The one-day exercise took place yesterday 13th January 2023 at the school facility located on queen’s way, Metropole building In Kampala.
Ninety five (95) units of blood were donated.
The blood donation drive was organized under the theme: “Saving Road Accident Victims”.
While Uganda needs about 400,000 units of blood annually to meet the blood needs of the country according to the World Health Organization, it does not meet this requirement most times due to several factors including lack of information and discouraging cultural and religious beliefs.
Esther Yapkoreny, the Uganda Aviation Academy `principal, reaffirmed the institution commitment to support life-saving and improving initiatives, such as blood donation. “Our dream is to create a future with more cheers,” Esther.
Esther also revealed that the blood donation campaign would enable the company draw attention to road safety during this period, since accident victims have been identified as among patients needing blood most. Uganda Traffic Police statistics show 218 people were killed in road crashes between 18th December 2022 and January 6th this year alone.
The Uganda Aviation Academy Vice-Chairperson, Dr. Captain Mike Mukula while addressing media said the partnership with UBTS for the blood donation drive is in line with the Authority’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) policy that focuses on interventions on Healthcare and Sanitation, Road Safety, Education, Environmental sustainability and Maternal Health.
He added that Uganda Aviation Academy is pleased to have contributed to this life-saving initiative that will impact hundreds of Ugandans with a new lease of life.