The number of donations underway at the time the earthquake began is yet another reminder of how through regular voluntary blood donations, ordinary people unknowingly pre-empted a tragic disaster and stopped it from claiming even more lives.
Since 2009, the Ministry of Health had invested effectively in a National Blood Programme, aimed at developing the sort of nationally-coordinated blood transfusion service that would be able to cope with emergencies.
7883
该规划系与世卫组织和尼泊尔红十字会合作制定，作为政府五年期国家战略计划的一部分。
The programme was developed in partnership with WHO and the Nepal Red Cross Society, as part of the government’s five-year National Strategic Plan.
The Red Cross was tasked with managing the blood transfusion service, while WHO was involved in providing technical support to the government and to partners in strategic planning and ensuring patient safety through quality assured screening of all collected blood.
7885
“对于患者来说，输血可能是生死攸关的事情。
“For a patient, a blood transfusion can be matter of life and death.
By regularly donating blood, countless Nepalis provide a regular supply of blood, which has proven not only essential in daily life, but even more so during natural disasters” said Dr Jos Vandelaer, WHO’s representative in Nepal.
7887
南亚地区的自愿献血率通常不高，但尼泊尔是一个显著的例外。
Voluntary blood donation rates are not usually high in the South Asian region, but Nepal is a notable exception.
In fact, the nation has more than 500 blood donor groups in the country, such as “Club 25” which encourages young people to make 20 donations by the time they turn 25, in the hope they will remain regular donors throughout their lifetimes.