16th September 2021 17:09:21 Hours
By responding to a request made by the National Thalassemia Organization, troops of the Vijayabahu Infantry Regiment Centre volunteered to donate blood for the benefit of thalassemia patients on 15 September 2021 (Wednesday) at the “Salute” Multifunctional Hall premises at Boyagane, Kurunegala.
In view of General L H S C Silva WWV RWP RSP VSV USP ndc psc MPhil, Chief of Defence Staff and Commander of the Army in current context Sri Lanka Army is being the main stakeholders and frontliners exclusively to assist national requirements as the prime responsive element for all kind of stakes, Vijayabahu Infantry Regiment understands and works for the noble cause at all time. National Thalassemia Organization consists with thalassemia patients and they are seeking blood for them to survive in society as much as they can. Existing statistics shows there are merely 80 thalassemia patients in Kurunegala District where 1 pint of blood needs to be transfusion for each patient every month. Understanding the requirement of the thalassemia patients, Major General Sisira Pilapitiya RWP RSP USP, Commander Security Forces (Mullaitivu) and Colonel of the Regiment of the Vijayabahu Infantry Regiment has given immediate and necessary guidelines in arranging this meritorious and benevolent event as a critical situation has been arisen with the deficit of blood stocks due to present pandemic situation at the Teaching Hospital Kurunegala, the largest blood transfusion centre in Sri Lanka and its affiliated National Thalassemia Organization, Kurunegala.
Medical Officer from Blood Collection Centre Kurunegala and his medical team from the Teaching Hospital Kurunegala, assisted the project. More than 160 troops serving at Vijayabahu Infantry Regiment Centre donated their blood during this campaign.
At the end of the programme, staff at the Teaching Hospital Kurunegala did not forget to appreciate the generosity and the support given by the Army for saving the lives of Thalassemia patients.
