In one of the largest blood drives earlier t in April to mark Sikh Heritage Month, Sikh Nation partnered with Canadian Blood Services to raise awareness of the need that the health care system in Canada has been facing due to the shortage of blood in this time of crisis.

SURREY – Sikh Nation’s emergency blood drive for COVID-19 has broken records in giving blood and the Canadian Sikh community is being commended for their efforts.

With the rising COVID-19 cases in Canada now having reached above 47,000 cases, there has been a shortage of blood. And that’s where Sikh Nation has stepped in to alleviate the stress that has taken place on Canada’s healthcare system.

In one of the largest blood drives earlier t in April to mark Sikh Heritage Month, Sikh Nation partnered with Canadian Blood Services to raise awareness of the need that the health care system in Canada has been facing due to the shortage of blood in this time of crisis.

Sikh Nation, which has been organizing blood drives since 1999, has roots in the 1984 genocide in India. Every November, the Sikh Nation honours the victims of the genocide remembering the thousands of Sikhs who were massacred in New Delhi and other parts of India. 

Their mission, according to the Sikh Nation’s official website, in order to honour the victims, has been to commemorate the victims by launching this life-saving campaign. The blood drive is emblematic of the goal to empower and stand up against atrocities and acts of violence against any group and individual. Thus far, they have saved over 140,000 lives and since their first clinics in lower mainland British Columbia, Sikh Nation blood drives has spanned across Canada and the world.

At a time, when the blood donations have dropped due to the regulated stay-in-home orders and the province, Sikh Nation was also recognized by the B.C. Health Minister Adrian Dix commended the Sikh community for their great contribution to Canada.

 “People in the South Asian community of the Sikh faith, who every year launch one of the biggest blood drives in Canada, are launching a new blood drive, really at the call of Dr. Henry and many others across the country, and we’re so honoured and excited by that, it’s such an important thing to do and really heartening to see,” Dix said.

Volunteers who have contributed to the campaign have called it a duty that has not been about recognition but awareness, which makes their campaign all the more commendable.

Long time Sikh Nation volunteer Sukhdeep Singh said, “If you’re doing something year after year, and the health minister recognized it, to me it’s a good gesture … obviously, it feels great. It’s part of our duty to society. We’re enjoying all the privilege, and sometimes we ignore what we’re supposed to do to the neighbourhood, the community, the country as a whole.”

To find where you can give blood please visit the schedules on www.sikhnation.net/blooddonation