Pregnant women, children and those who need blood transfusion services face bleak futures as Aweil hospital has run out of blood supplies.
Aweil State Minister of Health Gabriel Kuol Lual told Radio Tamazuj that the situation is dire at Aweil hospital due to the shortage of blood. He said the state government plans to launch a drive to mobilise residents to donate blood.
He urged Aweil residents to donate blood to help in the treatment of locals. The state minister pointed out that the hospital needs enough blood to treat many cases of poor nutrition and other patients admitted with other diseases.
“Residents need to donate blood to save lives of those in critical conditions. The problem is that our people don’t understand the importance of giving blood,” he said.
“I went to donate blood. We will go again after some days because many patients are suffering in the hospital especially pregnant women who come from remote areas,” he added.
Arun Atuer Jok, a resident of Aweil town, said: “I came to the hospital to respond to the appeal made by the hospital for the citizens to donate blood, so I came to donate blood.”
James Chol Garang, another resident of Aweil, said:” I came here to save the lives of the people who are here by donating blood.”