Blood donors commended for contribution

TRUE to this year's World Blood Donor Day theme, 'Every Blood Donor Is A Hero', 75 individuals were yesterday presented with appreciation plaques for donating blood for 65 times or more.

Speaking to The Brunei Times at the event to mark World Blood Donor Day yesterday, Low Tong Wah shared that he has donated blood 77 times. "I started donating blood in 1991," the Supervisor at PKS Sdn Bhd said. "I do it because I want to help more people."

Another long-time donor, Ting Yiu Heng, a project manager at Sunning Sdn Bhd said he donated blood firstly, to save lives and secondly, to ensure his own health. "Each time I donate blood, I get free medical checkup," Ting, who has donated blood for 72 times, said.

"It's only when there is low iron content in my blood or have high blood pressure that would stop me from donating blood," he said jovially.

Sharing similar sentiment was Chin Pui Khuen, the only female recipient of the appreciation plaque."Donating blood is good for your health," she said. "It helps thin our blood, clean our blood and encourage our bodies to make new blood."

"Some of the benefits (of donating blood) include becoming more energetic, younger-looking and healthier," the retired staff of Standard Chartered Bank said.

Minister of Health, Yang Berhormat Pehin Orang Kaya Johan Pahlawan Dato Seri Setia Hj Adanan Begawan Siraja Khatib Dato Seri Setia Hj Md Yusof in his speech at the event said that blood donors were considered heroes because they did not only help save lives, but also helped prolong the life span and quality of life of patients who were very much needed blood transfusions.

"For this, I sincerely express my appreciation and gratitude for (our) blood donor heroes for their priceless contributions," he said.

"Only Allah Subhanahu Wata'ala knows how high your contribution and sacrifices are."

He added that "those of us who have received (blood transfusion) would surely remember and appreciate this gift until the end of our lives".

"Even though the culture of donating blood is not a routine that can be done within the shortest time, it can be cultivated at the outset and then become embedded in the souls of our people," the minister said.

"InsyaAllah, I am confident and I believe that we can succeed in cultivating more of our community to together volunteer to give blood and achieve (sufficiency of blood stocks)," he added. Diyana Ibrahim The Brunei Times