Most of the regular donors, she said were unable to donate blood because they had recently been vaccinated against the COVID-19 pandemic, hence they have to wait for a month before donating again.
Mrs Nyopa said this contributed to the prevailing shortage in the blood bank as most people are no longer eager to donate blood but only prefer to donate when their relatives are ill and are in need of blood.
She said some members of the public who were in need of blood during the Easter break made orders through the phone and when they were told that there was no blood, they did not go to blood centres to donate.
She noted that regular donors who did not receive the COVID-19 vaccine are the ones who donated blood, urging other members of the public who have not been vaccinated yet to come forward and donate blood to save lives.
Mrs Nyopa was quick to add that the COVID-19 pandemic has negatively affected the blood bank as the country had to shut down schools.
“We used to collect blood from students at tertiary institutions, at churches and offices,” she also said.
