Record 78 units of blood collected from Kitgum

3 May 2023, 6:23 pm

By Otim Moses

Paul Lokech foundation on Monday may,1^st 2023 partnered with the Uganda Blood Transfusion Service to collect blood in a massive blood donation drive at the Kitgum Municipality Mayor’s Garden.

A record 78 units of blood were collected from the various donors; chief among them, the Kitgum Municipality Mayor, Okwera Richard Ojara.
Ojara emphasized the need for blood donation since there is no machine that can manufacture blood yet it is highly demanded to save lives.

Juliet Agenorwot, a 17-year-old student of Jabuloni Isoke Memorial College was the youngest donor and a first timer. She said she was inspired to donate blood by her father who is a doctor; adding that it touches her to see patients in need of blood whenever she visits her dad in the hospital

Okema Samuel Dickson, a student from Corner Kilak in Pader district and a fourth time donor said blood donation is also good for the donor’s health since it helps the blood cells to engage in producing more blood.

Jacklyn Kiden, a Senior Nurse at the Gulu Blood Bank could not hide her joy for the historic turn up. She however stressed that blood isn’t for sale and asked members of the public to report any medical officer who asks for money for blood to be given to patients.

Kiden said that most of the donors she interacted with said that they were inspired to donate blood by the life and legacy of the late Lt. Gen Paul Lokech who used his time on earth to save lives.

The blood donation drive was conducted under the theme; “Every Blood Donor is a Hero”.