LOCATION – The U.S. government, through the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), has renewed its commitment to supporting Rwanda’s blood donor program on World Blood Donor Day by ensuring there is “Safe Blood for Saving Mothers.” Reports a press release by the Kigali US Embassy today.
This year, the U.S. government and Rwanda continue their partnership by helping the Rwanda National Center for Blood Transfusion (NCBT) in the process of applying for certification from the African Society for Blood Transfusion. This would ensure the NCBT is certified in having safe, clean, healthy blood in adequate amounts for Rwandans who need it.
“NCBT is a shining star that provides the safest blood supply in the region,” said Maestro Evans, Acting Country Director for CDC Rwanda. “The U.S. government and CDC are proud to support their mission.”
This year’s World Blood Donor Day theme in Rwanda is “Safe Blood for Saving Mothers.” Since 2005, the US government has given more than $11.3 million to Rwanda’s NCBT to ensure Rwandan hospitals and doctors have the blood supplies they need to keep the country healthy. More than half of that support benefits mothers, a group of patients that feels most acutely the need for clean, safe and reliable blood supplies.
The U.S. Embassy in Kigali also conducts regular blood donor drives among its staff to support Rwanda’s hospitals and clinics. According to the World Health Organization, the need for blood and blood products is increasing every year, and many patients requiring life-saving transfusion do not have timely access to safe blood and blood products. Regular voluntary unpaid blood donors are the safest source of blood as there are fewer bloodborne infections among these donors than among people who give blood in exchange for money or who donate for family members in emergencies.
Do you want to donate blood in Rwanda? Call the NCBT at 1011 (toll free in Rwanda) to find out how you can help save a life.
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