Access Bank Rwanda and Rwanda Biomedical Centre (RBC), last week, organized a three-day blood donation campaign that ran from March 17 to March 19 in Kigali city where about 147 people donated blood at RBC headquarters.

Nadine Rutabayiro, Head of the Women Banking department at Access Bank Rwanda said that the activity to partner with RBC in the blood-donation campaign under the theme "A mother saved is a Nation saved” was in line with the Bank’s campaign of celebrating women throughout March and recognizing their role in the society.

"As a way of celebrating international women day, Access Bank Rwanda organized a month-dedicated to activities aimed at promoting women’s development.

We cannot talk about women’s development without starting by saving their lives. That is why we partnered with a blood donation centre in a blood donation campaign so that people know that donating blood also saves women’s lives to pave their way for development,” she said.

She reiterated that Access Bank particularly supports women through transforming their lives and economic development in general.

Dr Thomas Muyombo, the Director of Regional Centre for Blood Transfusion (RCBT) in Kigali lauded the support from Access Bank Rwanda saying the campaign will help to increase more people that donate blood in Kigali city and elsewhere.

"We organize such campaigns four times a year in the car-free zone in Kigali and Access Bank also supports us. But this time it was held at RBC headquarters because the car-free zone is being revamped. We have to continue organizing such campaigns because there are always patients in need of blood,” he said.

He said that although strategic efforts to mobilize new people to donate blood were affected by Covid-19 pandemic, there was no shortage of blood in hospitals considering that there were even few accident victims and other patients going to hospital during lockdown.

Meanwhile, he said that people who have a habit of donating blood were reached in one way or another.

Muyombo said that despite the pandemic, there are good records of hospital certification in terms of blood availability to save the lives of patients.

"In 2020, hospital satisfaction was at 93 per cent which is an increase from 89 per cent in 2019 despite covid-19 pandemic. As of now, satisfaction has increased to 96 per cent. To explain this well, it means that if a hospital needs 10 blood units for a patient, this patient gets between nine and ten blood units which really saves the lives of the patient,” he said.

He said that the level is satisfactory considering that it has increased from 47 per cent since 2014.

Other blood donation centres, he said, are located in Huye, Rwamagana, Musanze and Karongi districts to be able to collect blood from all provinces.

He said consistent blood donation is highly appreciated.

Aisha Ingabire has been donating blood since 2013.

"This is the 17th donating blood. I feel proud because I believe that donating blood means saving the lives of people. People should have a kind heart and love to save the lives of those in critical conditions. People should change their mindset. Donating blood is easy and safe,” she said.

Gaspard Gatsinzi who also donated blood during the campaign added: "I heard about the campaign and chose to donate blood. It is my first time donating blood. It only requires understanding that donating blood means saving the lives of people."

"I was thinking that it has effects but it is easy and safe. Everybody should donate blood because every human being can face a situation of needing blood support,” he said.