2016 class of inductees into the Basketball Hall of Fame, Yao Ming of China speaks during a press conference at the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, Sept 8, 2016. (PHOTO / XINHUA)

BEIJING - Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) president Yao Ming has led his staff to donate blood as the Chinese capital strives to solve a shortage of blood for clinical practice, Beijing Health Commission said on Wednesday.

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A total of 12 people from the CBA including former NBA star Yao made successful donations. In all, they gave out 2400ml blood with Yao donating 400ml, said Capital Health, the Weibo account of Beijing Health Commission.

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Beijing has launched a campaign calling its citizens to donate blood for clinical use to make up for the shortfall in blood as there were few donors in the past couple of months because people were suggested to stay at home in a combat against the outbreak of novel coronavirus.