MIRI: The Miri Hospital blood bank is targeting to reach 10,000 blood donors this year to ensure a sufficient blood supply, particularly for blood groups O and B.
Deputy Minister of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Datuk Sebastian Ting said 9,557 blood donors were recorded in 2025, of whom 1,605 were first-time donors.
“Out of the total, 3,626 were female donors. This shows that blood donation activities have received strong support from various groups regardless of gender,” he said when met by reporters during the ‘A Gift of Life’ blood donation campaign at the Boulevard Shopping Mall here recently.
According to him, the Miri Hospital blood bank currently has 6,711 registered active donors, reflecting the community’s continued commitment to supporting blood donation efforts.
Ting said that supplies of blood groups O and B are at levels requiring urgent attention, adding members of the public with these blood types should come forward to donate.
He added that to ensure stable blood supplies, various mobile blood donation campaigns continue to be actively organised and have been receiving encouraging public response.
“In January alone this year, a total of 828 donors were recorded, marking a positive start towards achieving the annual target,” he said.
He stressed that blood donation is a vital contribution that can save lives and cannot be replaced by any laboratory-produced alternative.
He called on more individuals, companies and organisations to come forward to support voluntary blood donation activities as a shared responsibility in safeguarding public health.
