KUCHING: The need for blood has increased by five per cent every year in line with population growth and medical development, said deputy director (Medical) of Sarawak General Hospital (SGH) Dr Hayati Ja’afar.
According to her, the need for blood is to overcome diseases and emergencies such as bleeding mothers, accidents, surgical cases, thalassemia, leukemia, cancer, premature babies and dengue fever.
“On behalf of SGH, the public is hereby informed that 70 donors are needed daily to meet the needs of 70 bags of blood for patients.
“Therefore, SGH Blood Bank puts emphasis on the importance of continuous blood donation to ensure that the blood supply is always sufficient and available for the use of patients in the hospital at all times,” she said at the SGH-level World Blood Donor Day Celebration here, yesterday.
She stressed that such a celebration was important to appreciate repeat donors and organisers of blood donation campaigns, while at the same time making the community aware of its importance.
“The implementation of this celebration is also in line with the theme of blood donation ‘Strengthen Unity’ which shows the unity of the communities in Sarawak who help each other regardless of race and religion,” she added.
The programme was a collaboration between Serapi Care, Weida FM Sdn Bhd, Public Health Unit, Malaysian Red Crescent Society Kuching Branch, Bank Muamalat Kuching and Sarawak Youth and Sports Department.
Also held to enliven the events were exhibitions and quizzes followed by the presentation of special certificates to donors and organisers of October 2021 blood donation campaigns.
