NSSF Annual Blood Donation Drive hits 6,000 units’ target

Last week, 6,196 units of blood were collected from across the country during the week long NSSF annual blood donation drive that was in its 9th edition this year.

The drive, which was done in partnership with Uganda Blood Transfusion Services (UBTS) was launched on Monday, January 14, 2019 and targeted all Ugandans across the country with the fund setting this year’s collection target at 6,000.

NSSF’s Head of Marketing and Communications Barbara Arimi said the Fund holds the annual drive because of the importance of blood in improving maternal health, reducing child mortality and deaths caused due to lack of blood.

“As a fund we are overwhelmed by the generosity of Ugandans this year and we cannot appreciate them enough. We are excited that we could surpass this year’s target with 196 units on top of our 6,000 units set target,’ she said

Regionally Northern Uganda collected 659 units of blood, Eastern 903 while Western Uganda collected 1,012 units.

According to World Health Organization (WHO) Uganda has an annual demand of about 340,000 units of blood, but falls short by over 100,000 units.

The Organization recommends that 1 per cent of blood be collected annually from the population. Last year, only 240,000 units were collected against a targeted 340,000 units in Uganda.