Botswana: Minister of Youth, Gender, Sport and Culture, Tumiso Rakgare, has applauded Pledge 25 for their initiative in creating awareness of blood donation, being selfless in donating blood and encouraging others to do so.
Minister Tumiso Rakgare was speaking at the World Blood Donation Cycling Tour send off held at Pilane this week.
Pledge 25 is a club under the National Blood Transfusion Services for young voluntary, none remunerated blood donors who promote the value of blood donation and risk free healthy lifestyle among the youth.
Minister Rakgare urged those affiliated with the MYSC in any capacity to be encouraged to donate blood in a show of care to their fellow countrymen. On that note, the Minister cautioned the audience about the worrisome issue of Gender Based Violence plaguing the country, with 7 GBV related deaths having been recorded in the previous week alone.
The cycling tour that started yesterday in Pilane is expected to run through 7 villages, namely Pilane, Artesia, Dibete, Mookane, Mahalapye, and Shoshong and end in Serowe, where International Blood Donation Day will be commemorated under the theme “Give blood, give plasma, share life, share often”.
On his part, the Minister of Health, Dr Edwin Dikoloti, also congratulated Pledge 25 for their patriotic and compassionate efforts in raising awareness of blood donation.
Minister Dikoloti said the event was opportune and came at a time when they are a high rise of non-communicable Diseases with high mortality; he said the country continues to experience a shortage of blood which threatens the lives of Batswana. Duty bound to do everything in their power to save the lives of Batswana, and initiatives such as this one are of importance to the Ministry of Health.