SIBU: The public, especially students, should be educated on the importance of giving blood to save lives.
Bukit Assek assemblyman Joseph Chieng Jin Ek said more eligible students, particularly those 18 and above, must be encouraged to participate in blood donation programmes.
“Donating blood can save the lives. Therefore, instilling the importance of donating blood should start with the younger generation,” he said when met by reporters during the Program Jom Derma Darah event at Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan (SMK) Methodist here yesterday.
During the event organised by the school’s Form 6 co-curricular management in collaboration with the Parent Teacher Association (PIBG), 36 out of 56 students and teachers who came forward to register for the programme were given a clean bill of health to donate blood.
Chieng hoped more missionary schools will organise similar programmes to further nurture and instil the importance of blood donation from an early age.
Meanwhile, school principal Philip Ling said the initiative is an important agenda for the school’s Form 6 student community service project.
“One of the main objectives of this kind of community service project is to give opportunities and exposure to the students at school to cultivate feelings of love, care for the needs of the community and be ready to serve and help society.
“In line with the school motto of ‘Seek, Find and Serve’, I hope this willingness and awareness of donating blood can be fostered at the school level and the practice will continue throughout life no matter where you are,” he said.
SMK Methodist is the third missionary school in Sibu to organise a blood donation campaign after SMK Sacred Heart and Sekolah Menengah (SM) Catholic Sibu.
Also present were SMK Methodist PIBG chairman Ting Wei Ping and SMK Methodist Alumni Association deputy chairman Albert Tiang.
