According to a statement from the National Blood Bank of Malaysia, the country is currently suffering from a low blood supply. It has become worse since the start of Ramadan.
As an initiative to increase blood supply, Pantai Hospital Ipoh (PHI) and Super Group (SG), with support from Hospital Raja Permaisuri Bainun (HRPB) Blood Bank, organized a one-day blood donation campaign at PHI on Saturday, May 16.
“We were approached to hold the ‘Save Life Give Blood, Be a Blood Hero’ programme to fulfill the responsibility in ensuring sufficient blood supply for the public,” said Chong Siet Fong, chief executive officer of PHI. “We targeted 100 blood packs which were then transferred to HRPB Blood Bank.
“The programme has received a very warm welcome from the public due to their awareness of the importance of sufficient blood supply in saving patients,” she added.
“In PHI, we’ve acquainted ourselves to the new normal according to strict standard operating procedures (SOPs) and performed health screening on blood donors in guaranteeing everyone’s safety,” Chong explained.
Representing HRPB Department of Transfusion Medicine, Dr. Mala Muthusamy said that the hospital’s blood bank is constantly in operation and HRPB will always welcome the public to donate blood.
“Our operation hours are from 8.30am to 9.30pm daily. The public may visit our Facebook page at Derma Darah Ipoh for more accurate information on locations of blood donation,” she added.
In a similar development, HPI presented 250 food boxes to be distributed via the social welfare department (JKM) for the needy in view of the International Nurses Day on May 12.
“Our nurses had also contributed milk powders for the unfortunate children through Pertubuhan Pengurusan Pusat Jagaan 1Malaysia Perak (PPPJ1M),” Chong noted.
Rosli Mansor
