Sikhs in Tanzania held successful blood donation drive to mark martyrdom of Guru Tagh Bahadur Ji

Dar es Salaam, Tanzania (November 25, 2013): The Shri Guru Singh Sabha in Dar es Salaam (Tanzania) reportedly collected 66 units of blood on November 24, 2013 in a blood donation drive to mark the occasion of the martyrdom of Guru Tegh Bahadurji, the ninth Sikh Guru.

A similar event that was conducted in Morogoro collected 15 units of blood donated by well-wishers.

According to ‘Daily News’ the Convener of the Health Committee Blood Donation Drive 2013, Dr Kulbir Singh said 72 people had turned up to donate blood but six people were turned down due to medical conditions.

“We would have actually collected 72 units but six people had to be turned away due to medical reasons such as high blood pressure, but we are grateful for all those who turned up for the blood donation drive,” Dr Kulbir Singh explained.

The blood donation drive is an annual event of the Sikh Gurdwara Sahib, which marks the occasion of Guru Bahadur Ji’s martyrdom of upholding the fundamental right of an individual to worship God according to one’s religious convictions.

“And now this right to worship God according to one’s religious convictions is enshrined in the United Nations Charter of Human Rights,” Dr Kulbir Singh explained.