Health
Health action with informed and engaged societies
Health
After nearly 28 years, The Communication Initiative (The CI) Global is entering a new chapter. Following a period of transition, the global website has been transferred to the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits) in South Africa, where it will be administered by the Social and Behaviour Change Communication Division. Wits' commitment to social change and justice makes it a trusted steward for The CI's legacy and future.
 
Co-founder Victoria Martin is pleased to see this work continue under Wits' leadership. Victoria knows that co-founder Warren Feek (1953–2024) would have felt deep pride in The CI Global's Africa-led direction.
 
We honour the team and partners who sustained The CI for decades. Meanwhile, La Iniciativa de Comunicación (CILA) continues independently at lainiciativadecomunicacion.com and is linked with The CI Global site.
Time to read
less than
1 minute
Print
a- a+
Published 25 years ago
Last updated 2 years ago
Read so far

Blood Donor Education - Uganda

0 comments

As a function of the blood donor recruitment for the Uganda Blood Transfusion Service, education was provided for potential blood donors in order to recruit and inform ‘safe donors'. The education was provided in an attempt to help these individuals identify the risk factors in their lives and the help them make the decision of whether they wish to donate or not.
Communication Strategies

Approximately 60,000 people per year have attended talks and received print materials given by UNTS blood donor recruitment officers. In addition, ‘safe blood clubs' have been established where approximately 2,000 young men and women receive support. Over 400 health care workers and students have been technically trained in the skills of blood transfusion medicine.
Development Issues

HIV/AIDS, testing and counseling, education, risk behaviour.
Key Points

The focus of the campaign is specifically to recruit altruistic, volunteer donors. A strong component of the campaign was to encourage repeat donors of those donors who are both HIV and Hepatitis negative, have attended educational sessions are highly motivated and recognize the value of the service they provide to the community. The educational sessions serve to dispel fears regarding anonymity, safety, confidentiality and any others concerns participants may have held.
Partners



European Union, Ugandan Red Cross, Ugandan Blood Transfer Service, CIDA (Canadian International Development Agency)

Sources

Rex Winsbury, Safe blood in developing countries: The Lessons from Uganda (Brussels:Lannoo-Drukkerij, 1995) 69, 93, 113, 119