THE Butterworth Buddhist Association has officially launched its own mobile application known as ‘Gift Of Life’ to encourage blood donation among the public.
Butterworth Buddhist Association organising chairman and welfare supervisor Tan Gee Beng said the Gift Of Life mobile application was fully sponsored and developed by Happy Icon Sdn Bhd at a cost of about RM100,000.
“The objective of the mobile app is to spread awareness about the importance of blood donation through various information provided in this app and also to encourage the public to become blood donors.
“Through this app, the public can easily register as blood donors and make an appointment before going to any blood donation drive organised by our association.
“The public can also register to become our volunteers through this app whenever we organise the blood donation drive. They can get updates on our blood donation programmes through this app.
“We hope that with this initiative, we can help to prevent blood banks at the hospitals in Penang from running low,” Tan said in his speech before Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow officiated the mobile app at the Butterworth Buddhist Association in Mak Mandin today.
According to Tan, the Gift Of Life mobile app could be downloaded via the Google Play store.
“For now, the app will only show blood donation programmes organised by our association. But soon, we will invite other associations to join in.
“By then, the public can get more information about blood donation programmes organised by various associations in the state,” he added.
Chow commended the Butterworth Buddhist Association for coming up with such an initiative to help replenish the blood supply in various hospitals in Penang and at the same time encourage the public to become blood donors.
“I believe it will make it easier for the public to donate their blood. Registration, appointment and others can be done through the phone.
“I also hope that more blood donation campaigns can be organised in the state by other associations to encourage the public to donate their blood.
“This is important because blood is life and donating your blood can save lives,” he said.
On a separate matter, Tan appealed to the public and the Penang government to donate to the association to upgrade its current hall to become a blood donation centre.
“The cost to upgrade the hall is around RM100,000 and if we managed to upgrade the hall, we can organise more blood donation programmes after this.
“So, I would like to appeal to the state government and the public for this purpose,” he said.
To this request, Chow announced that the state government has agreed to allocate RM50,000 for such a purpose.
Through their respective allocations, Chow also donated another RM10,000 while Bagan MP Lim Guan Eng contribute RM5,000 to the association as a token of appreciation for its social work.
At the same programme, a total of 450 blood donors were given certificates of appreciation for donating blood.
Also present during the programme today were state Youth and Sports Committee chairman Soon Lip Chee, state Welfare and Environment Committee chairman Phee Boon Poh, Bagan MP Lim Guan Eng and Bagan Dalam assemblyman Satees Muniandy.
Story by Riadz Akmal
Pix by Noor Siti Nabilah Noorazis
Video by Ahmad Adil Muhamad