Health: Uganda’s hospitals run out of blood

Last updated on September 11th, 2021 at 08:20 am

Uganda’s coronavirus cases may be small but the pandemic is constraining the delivery of health services regardless.

A blood shortage that has hit major hospitals in the country has delayed, even halted life-saving surgeries and in some cases, patients have died.

The China-Uganda hospital, Naguru in Kampala is a vital source of health care for many people on low incomes.

There are 100 beds here, but since it was built it’s been operating at maximum capacity, handling more than 300 patients including expectant mothers, children and emergency cases.

The greater number of patients means the hospital is using more blood, an average 700 units of blood every three months.

The COVID-19 pandemic has led to a sharp decline of blood supplies to the hospital from the National Blood Bank. Dr. Emmanuel Batiibwe is the director of the hospital that looks after many of the poorest residents of the capital, Kampala.

He says that multiple deaths there in recent months related to blood shortages. “In the months of April and May we had mothers who would come in when it is too late and they die because of lack of blood.

I remember there was a month where we lost four mothers, part of their complications was lack of blood, but the others were because they had high blood pressure during pregnancy and by the time they came here we could not save their lives.”

According to Batiibwe many deaths involve pregnant women who haemorrhage during or after birth. Children under 5 and patients going into surgery are also among those frequently in need of a blood transfusion, he adds.

“The largest consumers of blood across all our departments are mainly the mothers, the children and also those people who are going for surgeries they tend to demand (need) blood.

Amongst the mothers are those who are going for operations, the C-sections they are the commonest people who need blood.” Uganda has just seven blood collection and distribution sites across the country, but because of the restrictions to control the spread of the coronavirus collecting donations has been difficult.

There are some 80,000 registered donors across the country who are only able to donate three times a year.

Earlier this year the Uganda Blood Transfusion Services told lawmakers the agency couldn’t meet its targets, collecting 56,850 units of blood rather than their required 75,000 units between April and July.

Kampala’s private Mengo Hospital is now focusing on raising awareness of the shortages and to drive up the number of donors. According to donor recruiter Ariho Franco donor drives are now located in public places.

They have set up tents in locations such as the public square in central Kampala. Donors receive soda and cookies. Ariho says:

“Out of around 24 teams which are collecting blood in the country, each team is supposed to collect at least 50 units, but as I talk now, we collect around 20 units which is a big deficit and at the end of the day you will find that it will also affect the need for blood in hospitals.”

(AFP)