KUCHING: The Kuching branch of the Red Crescent Society aims to get 10,000 women to donate blood within the next two years.
According to its blood collection service chairman John Jong, the goal was established in light of the previous year’s 9.8 per cent increase in female donors, or 9,073 donors.
Blood donations to the Sarawak General Hospital Blood Bank increased by 6.2 per cent to 25,211 units in 2023, up from 23,745 units in 2022.
New donors also increased by 3 per cent, with 4,477 people making their first donation in 2023, compared to 4,356 the year before.
He stated at the 2024 Blood Donor Awards Presentation Ceremony held here Saturday that, in terms of gender, there were 16,138 male donors and 9,073 female donors in 2023, with the ratio remaining constant at 64:36.
Jong added that there is now greater organisation and coordination in the system for collecting and donating blood.
He expressed his thanks to the Sarawak General Hospital’s director, the staff of the Blood Bank, and the blood donors, who were each given unique gifts.
“Let’s keep collaborating for the benefit of our community,” he said.
A total of ten blood donors, including Kho Boon Seng (180 pints), Peter Lim Eng Choon (155 pints), Sopran Mohamad (155 pints), Ismail Zakira (140 pints), and Wan Dobil Wan Sulaiman (125 pints), were given Voluntary Blood Donor Award Certificates during the event.
Ahmad Radzuan Abu Bakar donated 120 pints, Kasbendi Senong donated 120 pints, Wan Ismail Wan Bala’o donated 120 pints, Aminah Morshidi donated 110 pints, and Phyllis Kho Liang Kuang donated 75 pints.
Sarawak General Hospital (SGH) Director Dr Ngian Hie Ung and Kota Sentosa assemblyman Wilfred Yap were also present.
