Only Three Per Cent Of Malaysia's Population Donated Blood In Past Two Years

By Ibnu Khusairi Ibnu Aris KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 11 (Bernama) -- Statistics provided by the National Blood Centre have indicated that only three per cent of the Malaysian population donated blood in the past two years. The figure is a far cry from the targeted 10 per cent, said its medical officer, Dr Ombala Shanmuga. However, he said, it showed a slight increase as compared to the blood donation records in 2007 and 2008. Nevertheless, he noted, there were still many campaigns to be carried out to increase public awareness to achieve the desired target. "Countries like the United States have 30 per cent of its people who are blood donors while in Malaysia, we have yet to achieve the 10 per cent target," he told Bernama when met at a blood donation campaign jointly organised by the centre and Bernama Centre of Exellence at Wisma Bernama here Tuesday. According to Dr Ombala, the centre would organise campaigns at five locations on weekdays and up to eight locations on weekends to increase awareness among people on the importance of donating blood. "We only took about 450ml blood from each donor. Blood from one person could save three lives which required blood transfusions," he said. Among those who donated blood today was Bernama Economic News Service Deputy Editor-in-Chief Zakaria Abdul Wahab. Since his first donation in 2001, Zakaria has been frequently donating blood. "I would do it at least once a year to help those in need of blood. I also donate for health reasons as donating blood allows the production of new red blood cells more quickly," he said. Special Assistant to Bernama International News Service Editor, Rodziah Idris, who donated blood for the first time Tuesday, said she decided to do so because she was impressed with the commitment of regular blood donors. "I have a friend who was once a regular blood donor. However, she ceased being a donor due to health reasons. That made me sad and I decided to donate blood," she said. The blood donation campaign from 10am to 3pm at Wisma Bernama involved eight staff from the blood centre, including a doctor. -- BERNAMA