Uganda Aviation Academy (UAA) on Friday, August 18, 2023, partnered with Miss Uganda and Uganda Blood Transfusion Services (UBTS) to mobilise blood donation amidst the growing demand in hospitals across the country.
A one-day exercise was held at the school facility located on Entebbe Road, Metropole Building in Kampala, with the theme “Saving Road Accident Victims & and Expectant Mothers,” where ninety-five (95) units of blood were donated.
Esther Yapkoreny, the Uganda Aviation Academy’s principal, reaffirmed the institution’s commitment to supporting life-saving and improving initiatives, such as blood donation.
“Recently, reports indicated that there is a blood shortage in major hospitals in the country, which has delayed, even halted lifesaving, leading to the deaths of some patients,” Yaporeny said.
Esther also revealed that the blood donation campaign would enable the company to draw attention to road safety since accident victims have been identified as among the patients needing blood the most.
Captain Mike Mukula, the Uganda Aviation Academy Vice-Chairperson, said that the partnership with Miss Uganda and UBTS for the blood donation drive is in line with the authority’s corporate social responsibility (CSR) policy, which focuses on interventions in healthcare, sanitation, and road safety.
“Due to increased demand for blood in the city caused by numerous road accidents with statistics indicating 10 deaths for every 100,000 people, I call upon the government, especially the Ministry of Health, to establish blood banks in different parts of the country so that we have enough blood in stock,” Mukula stated.
He added that the Uganda Aviation Academy & Miss Uganda are pleased to have contributed to the life-saving initiative that will impact hundreds of Ugandans with a new lease of life as senior citizens.
Hannah Karema Tumukunde, Miss Uganda 2023/4, thanked the Aviation Academy for coming up with such a great idea that can save a life and asked the board to think of extending the drive countrywide.
Uganda Blood Transfusion Services (UBTS) is the body mandated to conduct blood donor recruitment and mobilisation countrywide, while the Uganda Aviation Academy is an institution in Uganda that conducts civil aviation training.
