KAMPALA – A donation of vital blood bank equipment worth UGX 1.3 billion has been made to the Uganda Blood Transfusion Services (UBTS).
The equipment, which includes refrigerators, platelet agitators, and centrifuges, was donated by Ecobank, in partnership with Malaria Free Uganda and the Ministry of Health.
According to Ecobank’s Managing Director, Ms. Grace Muliisa, the donation is part of the bank’s commitment to supporting Uganda’s healthcare system.
“We believe that this equipment will play a critical role in saving lives and strengthening Uganda’s healthcare system,” she said.
Kenneth Mugisha, the Board Chairman for Malaria Free Uganda, highlighted the importance of the donation in the fight against malaria.
“Malaria is a major public health concern in Uganda, and this equipment will help ensure that sufficient blood is available to manage severe malaria and avert preventable deaths,” he said.
The Minister of Health, Dr. Jane Ruth Aceng, praised the collaboration, calling for further resources and commitments to scale up efforts to eliminate malaria in Uganda.
“Partners and stakeholders must continue to support the MFU Malaria Elimination Fund to sustain interventions that reduce the burden of malaria and strengthen public health systems,” she said.
The donation is seen as a significant step towards improving Uganda’s healthcare system, particularly in the fight against malaria.
Malaria is a major public health concern in Uganda, with over 12 million cases reported annually. The disease accounts for 30-50% of the country’s blood use, highlighting the need for sufficient blood supplies to manage severe malaria cases.
The donated equipment is expected to enhance UBTS’s capacity to collect, process, and store blood, ultimately saving lives and reducing the burden of malaria on Uganda’s healthcare system.
