Keynote Address at Commemoration of World Blood Donor Day by UN Resident Coordinator

The Director, Uganda Blood Transfusion Service, Dr. Dorothy Kyeyune Byabazaire

The President of Rotary Club of Kampala Munyonyo, Mr. Peter Kagwa

The Secretary General, Uganda Red Cross Society, Robert Kwesiga

The Chief Executive Officer, Next Media, Mr. Kin Karisa

Distinguished Guests

Ladies and Gentlemen

I am delighted to deliver the keynote address during this commemoration of the World Blood Donor Day. I would like to convey my appreciation to the Uganda Blood Transfusion Service, the Rotary Blood Bank and the Rotary Club of Kampala Munyonyo for the successful conclusion of the week-long blood donation drive especially during this challenging COVID-19 time. I also wish to recognize your work in collecting, testing, cleaning, properly storing and distributing safe blood and blood products to those in need over the years. The just concluded week-long blood donation drive is an example of good citizenship, our Pan-African value system – Ubuntu and the universal principles regarding our shared humanity.

The United Nations has a long-standing relationship with Rotary. Working together with the World Health Organization (WHO) and UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF), Rotary commenced a global campaign in 1988 aimed at the eradication of Polio worldwide through universal vaccination. The campaign registered a lot of success, although some small pockets of Wild Polio emerged in different parts of the world in recent years. It is my hope that once again we can work together to eradicate the new global challenge of the COVID-19 pandemic and help millions of families.

Why World Blood Donor Day?

World Blood Donor Day is held on June 14 each year. The event was organised for the first time in 2005, jointly by the WHO and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies to raise global awareness on the need for safe blood and blood products and on the critical contribution that voluntary, unpaid blood donors make to national health systems. The day also serves to thank blood donors for their voluntary, life-saving gifts and encourage governments and national health authorities to provide adequate resources and systems to increase the collection of blood from voluntary, non-remunerated blood donors.

The need for blood is universal, but access to blood for all who need it is not. Blood shortages are particularly acute in developing countries. In many countries, supply of safe blood is not adequate, and blood services face the challenge of making sufficient blood available, while also ensuring its quality and safety. Safe blood and blood products and their transfusion are a critical aspect of public health that save millions of lives, help patients suffering from life-threatening conditions live longer and with higher quality of life, and support complex medical and surgical procedures. Access to safe and sufficient blood and blood products can help reduce rates of death and disability during delivery and after childbirth.

An adequate supply can only be assured through regular donations by voluntary unpaid blood donors. WHO's goal is for all countries to obtain all their blood supplies from voluntary unpaid donors by 2030. In 2014, 60 countries had their national blood supplies based on 99-100% voluntary unpaid blood donations, with 73 countries still largely dependent on family and paid donors. To ensure that everyone who needs safe blood has access to it, all countries need voluntary, unpaid donors who give blood regularly. Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, despite limited mobility and other challenges, blood donors in many countries have continued to donate blood and plasma to patients who need transfusions. This extraordinary effort during a time of unprecedented crisis highlights the crucial role of well-organised, committed voluntary, non-remunerated blood donors in ensuring a safe and sufficient blood supply during normal and emergency times.

Ladies and Gentlemen

In many countries including Uganda, young people have been at the forefront of initiatives aimed at achieving safe blood supplies through voluntary, non-remunerated blood donations. I would like to thank the thousands of youth and other people who have donated blood. I also wish to thank UN personnel who have periodically donated blood at our office premises and on United Nations Days. I am aware that the Uganda Blood Transfusion Service has been receiving blood donations from young people mostly in schools and at tertiary institutions, which are now closed. I call on all those who are able to, including young people,  to continue responding to the call to donate blood while observing the COVID-19 SOPs. I would like to thank those who have contributed blood regularly. On this occassion, I would like to take a moment to recognize the Rotarian General Katumba Wamala who has donated blood 97 times over the years and who having reached the age of 65 will no longer be asked to donate. His last blood donation was on 30th March 2021 at Bulang, Mengo. We thank him for his service and convey our prayers for his full recovery following the tragic attempt on his life which led to the loss of his daughter and driver. May their souls rest in peace.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

As I conclude, donating of blood is a life-saving act of solidarity. It is within the spirit of Rotary of ‘service above self’ and the African value of Ubuntu and Obuntubulamu, which calls on us to recognise our shared humanity,  ‘I am because you are’ It is about Obumu-Unity; and Okufaayo-Empathy. It is also within the spirit of the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which aim to “Leave No One Behind” In particular, donating blood contributes to Goal 3 Good Health and Well-being.

On behalf of the United Nations system in Uganda, I reiterate our commitment to work with partners through our UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework 2021-2025 to advocate for systems to increase the collection of blood from voluntary, non-remunerated blood donors and scale up national efforts to mitigate the impact of COVID-19 in Uganda. “Health cannot be a question of income, it is a fundamental human right.” Nelson Mandela.

Thank you.