Rwanda National Police

Eighty-six Police officers operating in City of Kigali, on Thursday, May 5, boosted the national blood bank with 86 units of blood.

The voluntary blood donation exercise was held at the Rwanda National Police (RNP) General Headquarters in Kacyiru as part of the force's partnership with the National Center for Blood Transfusion (NCBT).

RNP spokesperson, Commissioner of Police (CP) John Bosco Kabera said that health is part of security.

"Since 2017, Rwanda National Police and the Rwanda Biomedical Centre through its Blood Transfusion Division have partnered in health related programmes, including donating blood to have safer and healthier lives," CP Kabera said.

The two institutions formalized their partnership in 2017 to work together in various aspects of health and security related healthcare, including donating blood, fighting narcotic drugs especially among the youth; mental health interventions and fighting sexual and gender based violence.

Other areas include enforcing laws and regulation against risks of Non-Communicable Diseases, fighting counterfeit, selling and smuggling of pharmaceuticals.

Dr. Thomas Muyombo, the Division Manager of the the Blood Transfusion Division (BTD) under the Rwanda Biomedical Centre (RBC), said that every unit of blood donated saves up-to four lives.

"Since 2017, Rwanda National Police has donated over 5000 units of blood, including over 1300 units donated this year. These are tens of thousands lives in need of blood saved," Dr. Muyombo said.

He added that security organs are setting an example not only to ensure physical security but also the health of the people.