Sarawak transport minister confident Miri Hospital blood bank will hit 10,000-pint donation target this year

Lee (second row, seventh left) receiving a token of appreciation from IWC Miri president, Cecilia Sman.

MIRI, Jan 7: Minister for Transport Sarawak Dato Sri Lee Kim Shin is optimistic that Miri Hospital Blood Bank will manage to achieve its target, in collecting 10,000 pints of blood, this year, following strong support from the Miri community.

“We are very appreciative of the strong Miri community support for blood drive campaigns over the years,” said Lee.

Last year, 9,682 pints of blood were successfully collected.

Met at the blood drive event organised by Inner Wheel Club (IWC) Miri earlier today at Myy Mall in Lutong, Lee expressed hope Mirians will continue to support blood donation campaigns.

“Blood collected in Miri is not only utilised in Miri Hospital, but also for those in need in other healthcare facilities such as in Marudi, Limbang, Lawas, and in fact even Sabah,” he told the local media.

Lee also extended his thanks to the public in Miri for their strong support over the years.

He disclosed that Miri was the first in the country to achieved 100 per cent voluntary blood donors, meaning sufficient blood supply for hospitals. Previously, the hospital faced a lot of problems in terms of shortages of blood, including reluctance to donating blood, but volunteers continued to render their services and managed to overcome this matter. Since then, MRC Miri Chapter has been actively organising blood donation drives.

“As the result our blood donations turn out to be successfully,” Lee added.

Also present were, co-organising chairpersons, MRC blood donor recruitment committee chairman Karambir Singh and IWC Miri president Cecilia Sman, Rotary Club of Oil Town Miri president Choong Bor Wen, and Miri Hospital Blood Bank relations officer Kenneth Numan. — DayakDaily