Rwanda National Police

A total of 566 Police officers at Police Training School (PTS)  donated blood on Saturday in the voluntary humanitarian act held at the school in Gishari, Rwamagana District.

The voluntary act is part of the commitment by Rwanda National Police (RNP) to boost the national blood bank, an act that falls under the force's human security programmes. It's carried out by the National Centre for Blood Transfusion at PTS Gishali.

This is the third time this year alone that Police officers at PTS have donated blood.

According to the Commandant of PTS, Commissioner of Police (CP) Vianney Nshimiyimana, more than 1000 officers have donated blood in the three separate exercises. 

The two other blood donations were carried out in March.

"Donating blood means saving someone's life, and that's what ensuring security as our duty, entails; for the people to be safe and secure even from diseases and being able to get blood when in need," said CP Nshimiyimana.

Alexia Mukamazimpaka from the National Centre for Blood Transfusion (NCBT) thanked the Police officers for their willingness to save lives especially in this time of Coronavirus pandemic.

“Police officers help us in our daily activities. They help us to get many units of blood at once. We thank the donors for the voluntary service to save lives. We have received such a big turn up and I can’t thank enough these police officers for giving patients another chance to live,” Mukamazimpaka said shortly after the exercise.

“We commend the spirit and love these police officers showed. We urge all Rwandans to have the same spirit. Together we can do better so that our people, who are sick get our help, and have the blood they need to survive,” she added. 

RNP and Rwanda Biomedical Centre formalised the humanitarian act in 2017 for a long term cooperation and collaboration, partly in donating blood as well other fighting other crimes with ill-effects on health such as narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances as well as sexual and gender based violence. 

Ever since, Police officers in their respective units donate blood periodical. Today each donor donated at least 450 mile litres of blood at PTS Gushali.