Minister of Youth and Sports Namal Rajapaksa on Wednesday (May 19) made a request to those who can donate blood to come to countrywide National Youth Corps centres within the coming week as the Blood Bank is experiencing a shortage of blood due to the prevailing Covid-19 situation.
As the initial step, Minister Rajapaksa on Wednesday came to the National Blood Centre to donate blood. He requested the people to contribute towards the attempts made to save a life.
The Minister launched this blood donation campaign following a recent announcement made by the National Blood Centre that there is a shortage of blood owing to the Covid-19 pandemic in the country.
With the objective of immediately overcoming the shortage of blood, Minister Rajapaksa is encouraging the youth community and others who have the capacity to donate blood.
After donating blood, Minister Rajapaksa told the media as a result of the Covid-19 outbreak, we were not able to conduct blood donation campaigns in various parts of the country.
Therefore, the Health Ministry and doctors informed us that there is a shortage of blood. “What we can do on behalf of that is to donate blood. Within the coming week, you can come to the countrywide National Youth Corps and donate blood by contributing to the attempts made to save so many precious lives. Therefore, I request all those who have the ability to come to their nearest Centre by helping to overcome the shortage of blood.”
During the period of the travel restrictions, the Youth and Sports Ministry, National Blood Centre, Community Police Units, Rural Committees and National Youth Corps will coordinate the activities pertaining to blood donation which will be implemented fully adhering to health guidelines.