The minister hailed young blood donors who have always been available to donate blood in many parts of the country and also called for more recruitment so that the country attains 100% free and voluntary donation of blood. He also recognized the tremendous contribution of Centers for Disease Control (CDC), The Uganda Red Cross and WHO in striving to ensure adequate safe blood in all health units in the country.


Speaking at the same occasion, the WHO Representative for Uganda Dr Joaquim Saweka recognized the tremendous work that is being done in Uganda in this important area of Health System Strengthening. He particularly commended the country for being 100% dependent on voluntary donors 51% of these being regular donors.

According to Dr Saweka, currently Uganda is testing for all the four markers of safe blood i.e. HIV, Hepatitis B & C and Syphilis. “I am aware that testing for HIV, Hepatitis B & C started way back in 1997 and testing for Syphilis in 2004. This is tremendous. I urge UBTS to replicate this best practice in all regions of the country” he said. UBTS has also developed a well-trained human resource capacity for blood transfusion services and assisted other countries in the region in training.

Turning to year’s theme - “Achieving 100 per cent non-remunerated donation of blood and blood components” Dr Saweka said that it places a renewed emphasis on improving the safety and sufficiency of blood supply. “As more and more countries achieve the goal of 100 per cent voluntary non-remunerated blood donation, there is growing appreciation of the vital role of voluntary donors who donate blood on a regular basis”, he said. Dr Saweka noted that voluntary blood donors are not only the safest blood donors, they are also the foundation of sustainable national blood supplies that are sufficient to meet the needs of all patients requiring blood and blood components.

Dr Saweka pointed out that the focus of this theme is to use innovative approaches to community participation to increase voluntary blood donation, maintenance of a stable pool of regular voluntary donors and establishment or expansion of blood component programmes based on hundred percent voluntary non-remunerated donation to achieve self-sufficiency. Blood donors come from all walks of life and all parts of the world, and every year they give more than 81 million blood donations.

He cautioned that while we may all one day need treatment by blood it is unfortunate to note that only one percent of the world’s population gives blood adding that “we need many more donors, if all patients are to be guaranteed proper treatment with safe blood”

Dr Saweka commended voluntary blood donors calling them special people who should be saluted as everyday heroes who help their fellow human beings to live. “We need them – and we need more good people, who will give a part of themselves to others” he said.