MIRI: The various blood donation drives held by the Malaysian Red Crescent(MRCS)Miri Chapter here received good public response.
During the past 15 months, a total of 5,191 people signed up to bleed for a good cause.
MRC Miri Blood Donor Recruitment Committee deputy chairman Karambir Singh said among the total, about 4383 people were eligible to donate blood. This means 4383 pints of blood were successfully collected for the Miri Hospital Blood Bank.
“As of Sunday June 6, at total of 116 blood donation campaigns had been organised at MRC Miri Branch ever since the first movement control order (MCO).
“The campaigns have received encouraging responses from donors and other organisers. Kudos to all the Miri blood donors for your help to save lives,” he applauded.
He added that MRC Miri Branch provided facilities for the public to donate blood with strict adherence to standard operating procedures (SOPs) since March 25, 2020.
“In accordance with this, we deemed that the MRC Training Institute is suitable for handling blood donation activities,” he said.
He also reminded that with the current enforced MCO, the donors are advised to come individually instead of in groups, and once inside the centre, they must observe proper social distancing.
On another note, Karambir pointed out, although the supply at Miri Hospital blood bank was on the low side compared to pre-Covid 19 times, it was still considered manageable due to support of regular blood donors.
“On the MRC Miri Branch side, we are hoping that more donors could come in so that we are able to stabilise the blood supply,” he said.
In conjunction with World Blood Donor Day (WBDD), MRC Miri Branch is cooperating with Northern Sarawak Journalists Association (NSJA) to organise a blood donation campaign today.
“As June 14 marks the actual WBDD, we aim to raise awareness among the public of the need for safe blood and blood products for transfusion and of the critical contribution made by voluntary, unpaid blood donors to the national health system.
“Hence, the blood donation drives are seen as an essential service to maintain an adequate supply of blood in the blood bank. I hope to invite new blood donors to come forward and contribute to the noble cause.
“Every drop of blood saves lives and more should come forward to give their support by donating,” he explained.
