Belait honours blood donors

SOME 31 blood donors in Belait District were honoured yesterday in appreciation of their good will in donating blood for more than 50 times.

The event, held in connection with the World Blood Donors Day for the first time ever in the district, saw gold member's card and certificate of appreciation presented to the recipients by the guest of honour, Senior Hospital Administrator, Hj Unus Hj Ismail.

Suri Seri Begawan Hospital together with Department of Laboratory Services, organised the event as a tribute to blood donors for their valuable and voluntary contributions in saving lives.

"Without sufficient blood donation, the blood transfusion system cannot be improved... in turn it will cripple advancement in the medical field,"said Scientific Officer at Suri Seri Begawan Hospital, Salmah Zaini.

In her welcoming remarks, she said donating blood should be made a common practice among the population, as the number of people who needed blood is increasing.

"Not only it's one social responsibility, research has shown that blood donation is beneficial in avoiding illness and also it has been proven that donors usually have lower risk in contracting heart disease compared to those who don't donate," she said.

Salmah Zain informed the audience that last year 700 pints of blood donated at the district was insufficient for the hospital which requires 1,000 pints.

A blood donation campaign was also carried out yesterday as part of the Day's activities. The hospital managed to collect 85 pint of blood yesterday.

In appreciation of the donors' noble conduct, two donors with highest donation count were rewarded with gifts.

With experience of donating blood as far back as 1962, Hj Abd Karim Hj Osman was recognised yesterday as the oldest donor in the district. He calls for the public to donate blood, and reasoned that: "Who else is going to help our own countrymen if not our own people?"

Every life is priceless, he said.

He was of the view that people should not think twice in donating blood as it is not only beneficial physically but also spiritually.

Elsie Chen who has donated blood 59 times was awarded as top female donor. In the interview with The Brunei Times she agreed with Hj Abd Karim and said that donating blood gives a sweet feelings.

"There are only two things that keep me going healthy and happy, that is donating blood and taichi."The Brunei Times