SIBU: A total of 7,485 pints of blood were procured last year involving 4,888 donors during blood donation drives compared to 7,307 pints in 2016. Organising chairperson, who is also director of Sibu Hospital Dr Ngian Hie Ung said that around 80 per cent of the blood were donated by regular donors. “Blood procurement is still very much dependent on blood donation campaigns which constituted about 70 per cent of blood procured.
“Last year, we have 78 organisations while there were 71 in 2016 and 75 in 2015 in blood donation campaigns. In 2017, we have two organisers which managed to organise blood donation drive on a monthly basis.”
“Hence, we hope they will continue it. In fact, we really hope that organisers of blood donation campaigns could at least help to organise the activity twice a year, especially during the festive seasons,” she said during the blood donors appreciation day 2017 held at a leading hotel here yesterday. According to Dr Ngian, Sibu Hospital Blood Bank used about 8,000 pints of blood a year.
“So, if our blood donors can donate at least two pints a year then we will not face any problem,” she explained.
She hoped that Red Crescent teachers will play active roles in recruiting young blood donors. She explained that they need more younger blood donors as there is an age limit in blood donation. Every year some donors will retire to their age.
Dr Ngian also hoped that all blood donors will promote safe blood donation, which means that they need to encourage those not at risk of infectious diseases to continue as regular donors or sign up as blood donor.
