SIBU: Malaysian Red Crescent Society (MRCS) Sibu branch in collaboration with Sibu Hospital will organise a host of activities to mark the World Blood Donor Day 2023 at Kingwood hotel here tomorrow (July 8).
Organising committee chairlady Dr Rachel Teng Li Cin said the theme for this auspicious occasion is ‘Give blood, give plasma, share life, share often’.
Speaking at a press conference held at the premise of MRCS Sibu branch yesterday, she said the activities of the day encompass blood donation campaign, organ donation recruitment drive, colouring contest, health campaign, health talk and blood donors’ recognition ceremony.
Dr Teng, who is also deputy director of Sibu Hospital, said in accordance with the World Health Organisation (WHO), the specific objectives of this year’s campaign are to celebrate and thank individuals who donate blood and encourage more people to become new donors.
Besides, she said it was to encourage people in good health to donate blood regularly, as often as is safe and possible, to transform the quality of life for transfusion dependent patients and help to build a secure blood supply in all countries in the world.
“It is also to highlight the critical roles of voluntary non-remunerated regular blood and plasma donations in achieving universal access to safe blood products for all populations; and mobilise support at national, regional and global levels among governments and development partners to invest in, strengthen and sustain national blood programmes,” she stated.
Touching on the blood donation campaign, she said it would be jointly organised with Sibu Automobile Repairers Association (SARA) starting from 9 am to 12 noon, which set the target to garner 100 pints of blood.
She said the organ donation recruitment drive by organ donation team from Sibu Hospital from 8 am to 1 pm set to target 50 donors.
Lions Club of Sibu Berjaya and Lions Club of Sibu Queensway as well as Sri Minyak Group will collaborate to organise colouring contest for children, aged four to 12, from 9 am to 10 am, she said, adding it is limited to 44 participants.
The contest, she said, is divided into category A (aged 4-6 years), category B (aged 7-9 years), cateogry C (aged 10-12 years), and all participants will receive a mysterious gift.
On the health campaign to promote public health education, Dr Teng said it would run from 9 am to 1 pm, and will include free glucose and blood pressure check; sexually transmitted diseases; diabetes & hypertension; quit smoking; and infection control.
Two medical doctors from Sibu Hospital will conduct two seminars on blood donation and organ donation from 8.30 am to 9.30 am.
Dr Teng said the highlight of the event – blood donors’ recognition ceremony will recognise blood donors who have been regularly donating blood especially at times of COVID-19 pandemic.
She said regular blood donors who have successfully donated 10 pints and above and for every five pints will be invited to attend the ceremony.
“Other than that, we would like to recognise active blood donation organisers. They have been trying their best to continuously organise blood donation campaigns throughout the pandemic to make sure the blood stock level in Sibu Hospital is always adequate.
“A total of 811 donors are expected to be recognised during the ceremony, out of which there is one highest rate donor who contributed 155 pints, two (100 pints), three (105 pints), one (110 pints), one (115 pints), three (125 pints) and one each for donating 126 pints, 127 pints and 140 pints in total.
“We apologise for not been able to recognise all blood donors at once as the number of donors is large. But we can reassure all regular blood donors will be recognised in different years during the annual World Blood Donors Recognition Ceremony,” Dr Teng added.
Also present at the press conference were chairman of MRCS Sibu branch Penghulu Chua Hiong Kee and SARA chairman Councillor Teo Nging Poh.
