Blood donation campaign organised by community-based scouts (CBS) in collaboration with Clean Bhutan collected 84 units of blood in Thimphu yesterday.

Of 112 people who registered for the donation only 84 were found fit to donate.

The campaign was supported by 12 volunteers from national referral hospital.

The campaign themed ‘Give the gift of life’ was inspired by a post in social media where a Bhutanese in India was suffering from lack of blood.

Advisory board member of CBS and a teacher, Tshering Choden, said, “We thought if the blood is banked, we could do something before such incidents happen again.”

The event was organised also to mark the first sermon of Lord Buddha and to express gratitude to the King, country and people.

CBS troop leader and a teacher Yeshi Dendup, said that there is a notion among Bhutanese that people have to go to temples during holy days.

“Donating blood is also one of the ways to earn merit.”

CBS organised a similar campaign around the same time in Phuentsholing coordinated by two scouts members.

The team plans to expand  the campaign across other dzongkhags in the country.

Staff reporter