Rwanda: International Volunteer Day to focus on blood donation

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Kigali 5th December 2013: International Volunteer Day was established by the United
Nations (UN) and it’s celebrated annually on 5 December. Celebration of this day promotes Awareness of the important contribution of volunteer service, thereby stimulating more People in all walks of life to offer their services as volunteers, both at home and abroad.}

As the world marks the International Volunteer Day; Rwanda focuses on blood donation to save lives.

Through the National Itorero Commission (NIC), the government of Rwanda encouraged and promoted the culture of volunteerism; individual organizations and committed volunteers would gather and improvise events on that day.

Under the 2013 Theme “Volunteerism as a means to self-reliance”, the RBC/National
Centre for Blood Transfusion – NCBT in partnership with National Itorero Commission –
NIC, announce the volunteerism activities of Blood donation exercises that will take place in four (4) provinces of Rwanda on 5/12/2013.

On 81 sites of Itorero in the country, with about 45,000 youth 4 sites one in each province will donate blood to save lives of patients in Rwandan hospitals. The Chairman of NIC – Rucagu Boniface has encouraged youth in Itorero to save lives of patients that need blood.

“I encourage all eligible Intore (Youth in Itorero) to donate blood to save lives of patients in hospitals.” Said Rucagu.

The Central Region will hold this exercise at Shyogwe site in Muhanga District, at Groupe Scolaire ASPEJ Kabare in the Eastern province. EAV Kabutare of Huye District in the ““Southern”” province and in the Western province the activity will be performed in Rubengera site while Northern province the activity will take place in Lycee de Ruhengeri – APICUR.