GICUMBI - Byumba Sector residents, on Wednesday, turned up in large numbers to donate blood at the Catholic Diocese Social Bureau, located in Gisuna Cell.  

The event was organised by the National Centre for Blood Transfusion (NCBT), which is a subsidiary of the Ministry of Health. 

The head of NCBT team of nurses, Veronique Mukarukaka, stressed the importance of blood donation to guarantee availability of adequate healthy blood to save lives of patients, who are in dire need of blood. 

"The voluntary blood donation exercise has been going on since December last year, with many residents turning up to participate in this humanitarian act,” said Mukarukaka. 
She further said each person donating blood is given refreshment drinks such as mineral water, soda and milk to regain energy. 

"Blood donation volunteers are required to fulfil health requirements prior to donating blood, by filling out a health questionnaire,” explained Mukarukaka. 

The requirements include ascertaining whether the person intending to donate blood is not suffering from diseases such as cancer, diabetes, tuberculosis or infected by HIV/AIDS. 

One of the blood donors Jean Twagiramukiza, said the exercise is a good humanitarian gesture to save lives. 

Blood donation saves the lives of motor vehicle road accident victims, in dire need of blood, which is why many Rwandans should participate in this exercise, he advised.
Another donor Chantal Uwase, said she donated blood in order to ascertain her blood group. 

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