An irtel staff donating blood
World Health Organisation (WHO) has granted Rwanda’s bid to host the global World Blood Donor Day 2019 event next year – becoming the 2nd African country after South Africa in the last 15 years.
World Blood Donor Day is an occasion to raise awareness of the blood shortage problem and thank donors worldwide. It is held annually on June 14.
On World Blood Donor Day numerous events are held worldwide to raise awareness about the importance of safe blood supplies.
According to Rwanda’s Ministry of Health, World Blood Donor Day 2019 activities in Rwanda will focus on mobilizing the general population to regularly donate blood.
Meanwhile, Rwandans have adopted the culture of donating blood. Figures from the Ministry of Health indicate that through National Centre for Blood Transfusion (NCBT), over 68, 695 Blood units were donated in 2017 from voluntary non-remunerated donors across 568 sites.
In 2016, President Paul Kagame clicked on the red button to see off the first ever drone deliver blood.
Zipline Rwanda, a robotics firm operating unmanned drones that deliver blood to Rwandan hospitals recently announced new plans to roll out a national blood delivery program as soon as its new drone port in Eastern Province is authorised.
Launched in 2016, Zippline drone port located in Muhanga district, Shyogwe sector-Southern Province the drone port supply blood in 21 hospitals with a new target to serve 30 hospitals and 400 health centers when the new site opens.
