Campaign draws 30 blood donors

KUCHING: Thirty people successfully donated blood today (Dec 27) as part of a blood donation campaign conducted by the Sarawak General Hospital Blood Bank.

The event which began at 9 am till 1 pm was held at Ken’s Kitchen Saradise premises.

According to the medical officer in charge on the blood donation campaign, Dr Lau Gong Quan, the programme today aimed to replenish the blood stock at the Sarawak General Hospital’s blood bank.

“It is also part of the premises’ activities for the year,” he said.

“This was the fourth time blood donation campaign held at Ken’s Kitchen,” he added.

Dr Lau stated that donated blood can be processed and separated into red blood cells, platelets, and plasma, which can be used to help various different blood deficiency issues faced by patients.

“Therefore, we now have a new method of blood donation, called apheresis, where donors only donate plasma or platelets because red blood cells will be returned to the donor’s body.

“The need for a supply of blood components such as plasma and platelets is no less important than red blood cells because they are not only required for cases of blood loss during accidents or surgeries and for dengue fever with bleeding but also essential for transplant patients, cancer patients, or haematological diseases like leukaemia,” he said.

According to Dr Lau, the centre is actively working to boost participation in its blood donation campaigns, scheduled throughout the week.

Blood donors, who completed donating their blood today, was also given light refreshments prepared by Ken’s Kitchen.

The centre will continue its donation campaign from December 28 to 29, offering two time slots daily: 8 am to 12.30 pm and 2 pm to 4.30 pm.

Additional drives are planned at Mile 4 Everrise on December 30 from 9 am to 2 pm, and at Emart Batu Kawa on New Year’s Eve during the same hours.

Although the Centre will be closed on New Year’s Day, a drive will still take place at Wisma Saberkas Ground Floor from 9 am to 2 pm.

For more information on blood campaign, members of public may visit their Facebook page Blood Bank Sarawak General Hospital.