BDO East Africa (Rwanda) Ltd’s staff took part in a blood donation drive on Friday, November 29, demonstrating the auditing firm's commitment to saving lives and contributing to the national blood supply.

The initiative, held at the Rwanda Biomedical Centre’s division responsible for blood transfusion, involved a thorough process where staff members were first screened for blood-related conditions. After reviewing the eligibility criteria, participants provided their consent to voluntarily donate blood.

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Egide Clement Kabano Niyitegeka, a partner in Risk Advisory Services (RAS) at BDO, noted the critical role of blood donation in saving lives. He emphasised that blood is a unique resource that cannot be manufactured, with its availability solely reliant on the generosity of donors.

He further explained BDO’s commitment to promoting blood donation as part of their corporate social responsibility.

"We encourage our staff to come forward and donate blood because you cannot buy blood. It’s a priceless resource. As BDO East Africa (Rwanda) Ltd, we want to foster a culture of giving among our employees and the community at large," he said.

Emphasising the longevity of this initiative, Niyitegeka said, "This isn’t the first time we’re doing this. It has become part of our culture. We’ve been operating for over 10 years, and for the past three years, this blood donation drive has been an annual initiative. In fact, we are open to increasing the frequency, potentially doing it twice a year."

"This is not a company rule; it’s an initiative for those who want to contribute. We want our staff to internalise this as part of their values, to give life to others," he added.

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Encouraging others to join the cause, he added, "I urge everyone to develop a heart that helps and loves. Let’s come together and give life by donating blood."

The Director of Tax and Business Services and Outsourcing (BSO), Rosette Niwewarwego, emphasised the importance of giving back to the community, noting that BDO actively engages in various initiatives to support society, including regular blood donation drives.

She encouraged others to consider how they can contribute to their communities. "When you live in a society, it’s important to think about the ways you can help. I believe many companies already engage in initiatives like this, and for those that don’t, I encourage them to consider blood donation because it is important,” she added.

She added, "We thank the leadership of the company for thinking of this initiative and our staff, who play a key role in its success. We also appreciate the support of the RBC team, who help us make these drives possible.”

Yvan Muhizi, a staff member at BDO East Africa (Rwanda) Ltd, explained that his decision to donate stemmed from a desire to help others and to gain insights into his own health, as donors undergo basic health screening during the process.

"I appreciate this initiative at our company. It’s a great way to give back, and it’s voluntary, it’s not mandatory but rather a personal choice,” he added.