BLOOD SHORTAGE AT FORT PORTAL REFERRAL HOSPITAL; TWO DIE

2nd July 2018
www.mknewslink.com
In Fort Portal
Fort Portal Regional Referral Hospital in Kabarole District, Tooro sub-region, has again been hit by blood shortage, which has resulted in the death of patients.
Last week, two refugees who were referred to the hospital from Rwamwanja Refugee settlement camp in Kamwenge district, died because of lack of blood.
The shortage, which has lasted over a week now, has forced the hospital authorities to refer patients to Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital, which is over 300kms away.
The hospital deputy director, Kalisa Kyebambe, said the regional blood bank machine broke down and it has not been repaired.
He said soon they will receive a technician from Nakasero hospital who will fix the machine.
Last year, 8 people died at the hospital after blood shortage.
Currently, the country still falls short of 160,000 units of blood annually since the national blood bank is only able to collect a total of 240,000 units due to inadequate funds.
As a result, blood shortage has on several occasions hit health facilities leading to many preventable deaths with the latest shortage reported in January last year, which forced hospitals, including Mulago National Referral Hospital, to suspend critical surgeries.

Source: www.mknewslink.com a greater western Uganda news website
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