YOUNG people are a vital potential source of blood donors.
When properly educated about the significance of blood donation and the ongoing demand for blood, young individuals can promote healthy lifestyles within their communities and help ensure a safe and steady blood supply for the future.
In our time, various illnesses, particularly life-threatening ones, necessitate blood transfusions to restore health.
Penang Hospital Transfusion Medicine Department head Dr Soo Peng Yen emphasised that young people have significant advantages over older individuals in donating blood, especially in terms of age, health status, and determination.
“In 2023, 41.7% of the blood donated in Penang came from young people, highlighting their crucial role in maintaining sufficient blood supplies for the state’s blood banks.
“Our goal is to ensure we do not run out of blood, as many critical medical conditions require blood transfusions.
“It is also essential to inform youths that by donating blood, they could potentially save not one but three lives,” Dr Soo said during a special programme in conjunction with World Blood Donor Day at Mydin Bukit Mertajam today.
This year’s theme is ‘Celebrating 20 years of giving: thank you, blood donors!’
Held at the ground floor of the mall, the event featured a blood donation drive and an exhibition on the importance of blood donation, attracting many shoppers to donate blood spontaneously.
Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow has urged state Youth, Sports, and Health Committee chairman Daniel Gooi Zi Sen to encourage greater youth participation in blood donations.
“Last year, a total of 47,714 packs of blood were collected across all Ministry of Health (MoH) hospitals in Penang.
“As Dr Soo mentioned, 41.7% of the blood was donated by young people, indicating the need for their increased participation in the future.
“With more health-related awareness programmes, particularly about blood donation, we hope to see at least 60% of the youth in Penang donate blood by the end of this year and sustain this trend in the coming years.
“I understand that at least 130 bags of blood are needed daily across all hospitals in Penang.
“So, let us all, especially young people, play a significant role in saving the lives of those in urgent need of blood,” he said.
Today’s programme at Mydin was successfully organised through a joint effort between the Penang Hospital Blood Transfusion Department, Bukit Mertajam Hospital, Kepala Batas Hospital, and Sungai Bakap Hospital.
At the end of the ceremony, staff from these hospitals were honoured with tokens of appreciation for being regular blood donors.
Also present were Penang Hospital director Dr Goh Hin Kwang and Penang Health Department deputy director (Medicine) Dr S. Shameni Sunasundram.
Story by Kevin Vimal
Pix by Darwina Mohd Daud
Video by Law Suun Ting