A groundbreaking ceremony was held yesterday 23rd July, 2025 at Moroto Regional Referral Hospital to mark the beginning of construction works for a new blood bank, a critical infrastructure project aimed at improving access to safe blood in the Karamoja sub-region. The project is being implemented by Doctors with Africa CUAMM, with funding support from the Embassy of Ireland in Uganda. This was in an event officiated by the Ambassador of Ireland to Uganda H. E. Kevin Colgan. Other dignitaries in presence were the Director of Health Services at the Ministry of Health in Uganda, Dr Okware Joseph, CUAMM Country Representative Dr Peter Lochoro, the hospital administration, representatives from the Uganda Blood Transfusion Services, Moroto district officials among others.
The construction of the blood bank comes as part of a broader initiative to strengthen health systems in underserved regions by CUAMM. Once completed, the facility will ensure timely availability of safe blood for patients in need, especially mothers experiencing complications during pregnancy and childbirth.
Speaking at the ceremony, Dr. Peter Lochoro, Country Representative of Doctors with Africa CUAMM, emphasized the importance of the facility:
“This blood bank is a culmination of a number of efforts tracking the pain gaps in Karamoja. With this, Moroto Regional Referral Hospital is increasing their rightful roles as a regional referral hospital. He recognized the district leadership of Moroto district for the warm relationship with donors and partners like CUAMM hence the good results that are being witnessed. He also appreciated the support from the Embassy of Ireland that has made all this possible through their generous funding.”
Dr Peter noted that with the initial blood collection, storage and distribution center, over 6600 people had been transfused in one year compared to the baseline of 5200 people. A 110% increase in transfusions for mothers who needed blood during pregnancy or delivery had also been noted reducing maternal death from 29 to 20 people in one year.
The Ambassador H. E. Kevin Colgan of the Embassy of Ireland also remarked:
“Access to safe, timely blood transfusion services is one of the most critical and too often overlooked components of an effective health system. It can mean the difference between life and death for a mother suffering postpartum haemorrhage, a child with severe anaemia or a trauma victim in urgent need of care. For a longtime, the lack of blood storage and supply capacity in Karamoja has limited the region’s ability to save lives. Today, we take an important step forward. This new blood bank will help ensure that life-saving blood is available when and where it is needed most. It is a symbol of hope and resilience for this region, and a major milestone in our shared journey towards equitable health care for all.”
He added that the Embassy was proud to support the new blood bank as part of that vision. To him, it is their belief that every mother deserves a safe birth, every child deserves a healthy start in life, and every health worker deserves the tools to provide quality care. The hospital administration and the district leadership welcomed the initiative, noting that the facility will help reduce maternal and child mortality rates and improve emergency response capacity in Karamoja. Previously, the region has struggled with frequent blood shortages, leading to preventable deaths and pledging their full support to ensure full utilization.
The 1.8 billion blood bank will include cold storage units, screening and processing laboratories, and donor facilities. Construction is expected to be completed within the next 5 months, and the facility will be staffed by trained personnel from the Ministry of Health with ongoing technical support from CUAMM.
In addition to the construction of the blood bank, a 200 million mothers’ waiting shelter will also be constructed. This facility will accommodate mothers whose babies are admitted to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, offering them shelter and dignity in place of the hospital verandas where they currently wait.
The groundbreaking for both facilities represents a major milestone in the journey toward a healthier Karamoja. As stakeholders reaffirm their commitment to sustainable healthcare, these projects stand as a testament to the power of effective partnerships between government, international donors, and implementing organizations in improving health outcomes in the region.
