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More Than 1,600 Blood Donors Honoured On World Blood Donor Day In Singapore
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13 June 2009
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Medal of Life Award Also Presented For the First Time To 200-time Donor
More than 1,600 blood donors were honoured in Singapore at the annual World Blood Donor Day [WBDD] celebrations held today at the Jurong Bird Park.
2 Guests of Honour Mr Khaw Boon Wan, Minister for Health; Dr Teo Ho Pin, Mayor of North West District and Mr Inderjit Singh, Member of Parliament for Ang Mo Kio GRC presented awards to recipients at three ceremonies held earlier today.
3 For the first time, a Medal For Life award was presented to Mr James Law, a 61-year-old donor who has donated blood since he was a national serviceman about 40 years ago. He is also the first Champion of Champion blood donor honoured in Singapore. “Blood is the life source that flows in every person, and it can be shared to help others. It is our duty as a service of altruism to other individuals, to the general community and to our nation ” said Mr Law, who donates platelets at the blood bank every month.
4 At the award ceremonies today, beneficiaries also expressed their gratitude to blood donors for helping to save their lives. Mr Firdaus Abdullah, a 17-year-old student at Ngee Ann Polytechnic, was diagnosed with leukemia when he was 11 years old. Now cancer-free, he recalled the need for regular blood transfusions to fight his illness. “Each unit of blood product that I received in my days of sickness was a symbol of goodwill and boundless charity that showed life-givers such as you truly cared for me,” he shared.
5 Mr Karthick Karthigayan, another blood recipient who sustained burn injuries in his national service days, also expressed his thanks to the blood donors. He is now an active individual and also an advocate of blood donation. “Each unit of whole blood collected can save up to three lives, so each and every one of your donation is invaluable to this end.” said Mr Karthigayan.
6 More than 10,000 blood donors and their families turned up today at the WBDD event. They also participated in carnival games and some even had their photos taken at the Talent Scout Campaign, where they could appear in future campaigns by the Singapore Red Cross' Blood Donor Recruitment Programme.
7 WBDD is a day celebrated annually to thank blood donors and to create wider awareness on the importance of blood donation and need for safe blood. In 2009, the global theme for WBDD placed a renewed emphasis on improving the safety and sufficiency of blood supplies through the achievement of 100 percent voluntary non-remunerated donation of blood and blood components.
SINGAPORE RED CROSS & HEALTH SCIENCES AUTHORITY
SINGAPORE
13 JUNE 2009