By Our Reporter

The people of Teso have reason to celebrate as the long awaited Soroti Blood Bank was officially launched this week, marking the end of a years-long struggle to secure a vital healthcare resource for the region.

The inauguration ceremony, led by Vice President Jessica Alupo, was attended by key figures, including Minister for Teso Affairs Dr. Kenneth Ongalo Obote and State Minister for Works, Musa Ecweru, as well as hundreds of enthusiastic residents, especially youth, who turned out to donate blood in a show of community solidarity.

The blood bank’s completion is seen as a significant victory for the people of Teso, who have endured a prolonged and frustrating battle for better healthcare access. The project, which began in 2021, faced multiple setbacks, including financial challenges, allegations of corruption, and poor project management that delayed its completion by nearly five years. Originally awarded to Rene Onei Investments, the contract was later handed to Geses (U) Ltd after the former failed to meet performance expectations.

Geses Ltd’s director, Peter Nkurunungyi, admitted the project had faced serious financial hurdles, but he reassured the public that his team worked tirelessly to ensure the facility was completed by the government’s January 2025 deadline. The new blood bank, designed to serve over two million people across Teso and neighboring districts, is expected to provide timely blood collection, screening, storage, and distribution, addressing the longstanding problem of limited blood supplies that were often sourced from Mbale or Kampala.

Health professionals in Soroti have long spoken about the difficulties posed by the region’s dependence on distant blood supplies. Dr. Bbumba Ahmed, the Principal Medical Officer at Soroti Regional Referral Hospital, noted that lives had been lost weekly due to delays in blood transport. The opening of the Soroti Blood Bank is therefore seen as a critical step in reducing these preventable deaths, particularly among mothers, children with severe malaria, and victims of accidents. Dr. Ahmed expressed his satisfaction with the facility’s launch, calling it a long-overdue but vital addition to the region’s healthcare infrastructure.

For local residents, the blood bank represents a crucial turning point in healthcare access. One mother, who lost her child in 2022 due to a delayed blood transfusion, shared her emotional relief at the facility’s opening. “This blood bank gives me hope,” she said. “I know now that if my family needs blood, it will be available right here in Soroti.”

Vice President Alupo, in her speech, described the blood bank not only as a healthcare milestone but as a social and economic catalyst that would improve service delivery, create jobs, and reduce the financial burden on families who previously had to travel long distances in search of blood. She called on health workers and administrators to prioritize the facility’s proper management, urging them to ensure transparency and accountability to avoid the mismanagement and corruption that had delayed the project in the past.

“The people of Teso deserve better,” Vice President Alupo stated. “We must ensure that the management of this facility is transparent, effective, and accountable.”

The blood bank’s inauguration was met with a surge in voluntary blood donations, particularly from youth groups who were motivated by the knowledge that their contributions would directly benefit their own communities. University students, in particular, emphasized the importance of supporting the local facility. “Now, when we donate, we know the blood will stay here in Teso, where it’s needed most,” one student explained.

While the celebrations were palpable, concerns about systemic weaknesses in the management of public infrastructure projects were also voiced. Caroline Twinobusingye, the Clerk of Works at Soroti Hospital, warned that while the blood bank’s completion is a significant achievement, the long-term success of the facility would depend on continued oversight and proper maintenance. “We must stay vigilant to ensure this facility doesn’t fall victim to the same issues that delayed its completion,” she said.

For the people of Teso, the opening of the Soroti Blood Bank is the end of a long struggle for better healthcare. After years of delays, legal battles, and frustrations, the facility now stands as a beacon of hope, resilience, and progress. Vice President Alupo aptly described it as more than just a building,it is a powerful symbol of the community’s determination to overcome adversity and secure a better future.

With the blood bank now operational, Teso has taken a monumental step toward improving healthcare delivery and saving countless lives for generations to come.