On Friday, December 1st, the staff of BDO EA Rwanda Ltd participated in a blood donation drive, showcasing the auditing firm's commitment to saving lives and contributing to national blood banks. BDO EA Rwanda Ltd, a Rwandan company operating under BDO International Network, the fifth-largest auditing firm globally, took the initiative to screen its staff for blood-related diseases. Following a review of eligibility criteria, employees voluntarily consented to donate blood. Speaking on behalf of the management, Egide Clement Kabano Niyitegeka, a partner in Risk Advisory Services (RAS) at BDO, emphasized the institution's dedication to saving lives by contributing to blood donation. He highlighted the absence of a blood-producing factory and expressed the firm's corporate social responsibility through active participation in addressing blood shortages for patients. Niyitegeka stated, “To alleviate blood shortages for patients, we have committed to participating in blood donation drives to save lives. This initiative is an integral part of our corporate social responsibility, serving as both an act of goodwill and an awareness campaign to educate society about the importance of blood donation.” Daniel Ishimwe, Audit & Insurance Senior Manager a BDO staff member who donated blood for the second time, encouraged all employees, both in formal and informal sectors, to engage in blood donation. He emphasized the collective responsibility of saving lives and urged individuals to contemplate how donating blood can positively impact their friends, relatives, and society at large. Globally, every second, someone requires a blood unit. Christine Mukakarangwa, an employee of the National Centre for Blood Transfusion at the Rwanda Biomedical Centre, emphasized that increased participation from institutions in blood donation drives would prevent potential crises. She mentioned the meticulous screening process in Kigali to detect infectious diseases like hepatitis B, HIV, syphilis, and others. According to figures from the Rwanda Biomedical Center (RBC), hospital blood supply stood at 99.42 percent as of 2022. RBC reported a total of 78,838 blood units donated in 2022, with 27.24 percent (21,482 units) contributed by youth aged between 18 and 25.
