KUCHING: Donating blood is a selfless act to help save lives.
And for 29-year-old Azlan Basri it has become an annual routine since he started donating in 2011 back in Selangor.
“Now that I’m in Kuching, I will always make it a point to donate whenever a blood donation drive is held.
“I plan to donate blood at least three times a year,” he told New Sarawak Tribune after donating his pint during a blood drive organised by Pertubuhan Pembangunan Insan Sarawak (PPIS) here.
It was Azlan’s 18th time to donate blood and he plans to do more in the future.
Accompanying Azlan was his friend, Hediris Duan, also 29, who was inspired by his noble act.
“We have long known each other and he persuaded me many times to donate but I wasn’t confident and I have this fear of needles.
“Bit this is my sixth time donating blood since 2018. After several trials, I’m no longer scared of needles and will always tag along with him if there’s a blood donation campaign in the city,” said Hediris.
Meanwhile, 24-year-old Bidayuh woman from Kampung Singai, Bethierista Jedis, said this was her second time to donate blood.
“There’s no other reason to donate but to truly help people in need,” she said.
Thirty-three year-old Philomina Hisnia overcame her fear of needles when she first started donating blood in 2016.
“There was an event held at my workplace and I was quite interested to donate. With some persuasion from my friend, I overcame my fear and started to actively donate blood ever since,” said Philomina.
PPIS chairperson Manjeet Kaur Sidhu said the campaign sought to assist the Sarawak General Hospital’s blood bank in encouraging more people to donate their blood.
According to Manjeet, the target of 100 pints of blood was achievable as there was a huge turn out and the previous campaign saw about 113 pints collected.
She disclosed that the next blood donation drive will be held at the Community Social Support Centre (CSSC) Kuching on March 4.
Organised by PPIS in collaboration with Lions Club Kuching, the blood donation drive was held at Cityone Megamall.
