Indian Community Targets 10,000 Units in New Blood Donation Drive in Jinja and Buikwe

What the report says

The Indian community in Jinja and Buikwe districts has begun a blood donation drive aiming to collect 10,000 units, a sharp increase from the 3,000-unit target used in previous years, according to Nile Post. The campaign is taking place at Yogi Steel Company and is being extended across factories in the two districts as health facilities continue to report blood shortages.

Gurcharan Singh, the community’s joint secretary, said the effort had already reached about half of the participating factories and was receiving a strong response from workers. He said the group wants to collect more blood because demand remains high in hospitals and clinics. Ripson Kennedy, secretary of the Indian community in Jinja, also called on more factories to join the initiative.

A representative of the Busoga Regional Blood Bank, Emmanuel Nasimolo, said such annual drives help the region meet collection goals, especially when schools are on break and cannot contribute as much blood as they usually do. He said partnerships with private companies help fill that gap. Staff from Victoria Group of Companies said their participation is part of wider community support efforts.

The drive matters because blood shortages can delay treatment for accident victims, mothers during childbirth and other patients needing urgent care. As a general background matter, blood donation campaigns in Uganda often rely on schools, workplaces and community organizations to keep regional blood banks supplied, especially during holiday periods.