SARIKEI: More than 30 individuals rolled up their sleeves to support the ‘One Drop, A Thousand Meanings’ blood donation campaign, held at the Kampung Baru Seberang Multipurpose Hall last Sunday.
The event, organised by Bachelor of Public Management distance learning students from Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM), was part of their Community Development IV course, aiming at giving back to society through service.
Running from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm, the campaign was held in collaboration with Sarikei Hospital and Public Medicare Group (PMG).
It was led by nine UUM students from the university’s Kuching and Sibu distance learning centres, who served as organising committee members.
Programme Director, Mahindra Rau Applanaidu, said the initiative not only met its objectives but also exceeded attendance expectations.
“We hope this campaign succeeds not only in execution but also in fostering a culture of awareness and regular blood donation within the community,” he said.
The campaign aimed to raise awareness, particularly among youth, about the life-saving importance of donating blood, while promoting humanitarian values and healthy lifestyles.
It also served to strengthen cooperation between the government and private agencies in community engagement.
Among the participants was Emalysia Mawat, 23, who was making her third blood donation.
“This is a wise and meaningful action. It teaches people about the importance of compassion and community,” she said, expressing her hope that similar initiatives would be held in the future.
Veteran donor Awang Hasbi, 54, from Kampung Sarikei, described blood donation as part of his social duty.
“It’s a valuable humanitarian act. I donate at least once and up to three times a year. It’s something all eligible individuals should make a habit of,” he said.
Meanwhile, Siti Huzaimah Ibrahim, 44, who has donated blood seven times, echoed similar sentiments.
“Each drop of blood represents love and solidarity. It offers new hope and can save lives, whether in emergencies or long-term treatment,” she said.
The event also featured certificate presentations to participating agencies, group photography sessions with donors and the distribution of 40 gift sets as tokens of appreciation.
