Ugandans have been urged to donate blood regularly as the country steps up efforts to prevent maternal deaths caused by postpartum haemorrhage (PPH), or excessive bleeding after childbirth.

Charlotte Kainerugaba, Uganda’s PPH Ambassador, said adequate blood supplies are critical because women experiencing severe bleeding require urgent treatment if their lives are to be saved.

“Excessive bleeding after childbirth has persistently remained the leading and most preventable cause of maternal death in our country,” Kainerugaba said, noting that about 35 percent of maternal deaths are linked to excessive bleeding.

“When a mother bleeds excessively after childbirth, every second counts and therefore the health system must be prepared with adequate blood and medical supplies to respond promptly and save the mother’s life,” she said.

Uganda requires an estimated 400,000 to 460,000 units of blood annually, with hospitals needing between 1,000 and 1,200 units each day. Data from Uganda Blood Transfusion Services shows that blood collection increased from 313,659 units in 2023 to 350,000 in 2024 and 439,000 last year.

Despite the increase in blood collection, health officials say the demand remains high, particularly when mothers develop complications during childbirth.

Speaking at the launch of the national blood donation drive over the weekend, Ministry of Health Permanent Secretary, Dr Diana Atwine urged Ugandans to make blood donation a regular practice, while also calling on expectant mothers to seek antenatal care as soon as they know they are pregnant.

“We want to continue to preach the gospel of every mother who gets pregnant, as soon as they get to know that they are pregnant, to go and attend antenatal,” Atwine said.

She explained that early antenatal care allows health workers to detect infections and anaemia and provide essential supplements such as folic acid and iron. The Ministry also urged expectant mothers to maintain a balanced diet and avoid relying on traditional birth attendants in order to reduce complications during childbirth.

Uganda continues to record about 3,000 maternal deaths annually, with postpartum haemorrhage accounting for about one in three of these deaths, according to Dr Jolly Beyeza, chairperson of the Ministry of Health’s childbirth committee.

Beyeza said women who are already anaemic or have low blood levels are particularly vulnerable because even a relatively small amount of blood loss can cause their condition to deteriorate rapidly.

“If a woman has less blood, she needs to bleed just a little, even less than 300, and they decompensate and they need blood or they need care. So while we say PPH is preventable and treatable, it keeps killing our mothers,” Beyeza said.

Atwine said the government was working to improve the availability of medicines and other supplies needed to manage postpartum haemorrhage, but health officials continue to emphasise the importance of having adequate blood available when emergencies occur.

For Kainerugaba, increasing blood donations is therefore an essential part of the fight against preventable maternal deaths.

The national blood donation campaign seeks to encourage more Ugandans to become regular donors, ensuring that blood is available before an emergency occurs rather than having to search for donors when a mother is already fighting for her life.

With hundreds of thousands of units required every year, health officials say sustained public participation in blood donation remains critical to closing the gap between demand and supply.

The message from the campaign is simple: donating blood can help save a mother’s life.