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2,565 people bleed for a good cause

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Wee (third left) witnessing a blood donation with (from left) Chai, Tay and Masrin.

KUCHING: The blood donation programme, launched by the Blood Bank of Sarawak General Hospital (SGH) at Kuching South City Council (MBKS) community hall here on March 24, attracted 2,565 donors.

MBKS Mayor Datuk Wee Hong Seng revealed that the programme was a collaboration between the blood bank, Malaysian Red Crescent Sarawak (MRC) and MBKS.  

He said the programme managed to attract the most blood donors in three months.

“We will not be able to achieve this without the people, and also support from the sponsors, including the Federation of Chinese Associations of Kuching, Samarahan and Serian Divisions and others.

“With this, it is time for us to let everyone know that Sarawak, especially Kuching, has a lot of caring and loving people,” he told reporters after the appreciation ceremony for the donors and helpers Sunday at the MBKS community hall.

Wee also pointed out that since the country and the state were still battling against the Covid-19 pandemic, blood is still needed by hospitals.  

“As a community-based council, MBKS will always support our State Health Department if it needs a venue for a blood donation programme,” he said.

Head of Transfusion and Blood Bank Services Department (SGH), Dr Mohammad Masrin Md Zahrin, thanked Wee and MBKS for their support and for allowing the Health Department to use the hall.

“During the movement control order (MCO), the supplies of blood dropped 40 percent and some cases had to be dropped due to insufficient blood supplies.

“But after this blood donation started, postponed cases in SGH were called up again. As much as 70 pints of blood are needed every day,” he said.

“Currently, there are five district hospitals under the Health Department and at SGH, we process, test and distribute the blood supplies to other major hospitals including in Sibu, Miri and Bintulu.

“Currently, there is sufficient supply of blood but we must maintain enough blood supplies of all blood types including rare blood types,” said Masrin.

He also thanked MRC Sarawak and its director, Chai King Sing; Tay Motors and its owner, Aaron Tay; and also other sponsors for supporting the blood donation programme as well as Kuchingites for donating their blood.

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