Press Releases
National Blood Programme Salutes Dedicated Blood Donors on World Blood Donor Day 2011
Audiences
Consumer
Healthcare professional
Industry member
Product type
Others
11 June 2011
This article has been migrated from an earlier version of the site and may display formatting inconsistencies.
Increase in the number of individuals and organisations honoured for their support of the National Blood Donor programme
Call to continue meeting the growing need for blood
Singapore, 11 June 2011 – In celebration of World Blood Donor Day, over 1,600 awards will be presented to exceptionally committed individuals and corporate/community groups for their support of the National Blood Programme. Besides the recognition ceremony on 11 June 2011, the celebrations will also include fun-filled activities for donors at the Singapore Science Centre.
World Blood Donor Day is a global event aimed at raising awareness of the need for regular donors to meet the increasing demand for blood and to honour those committed to donating altruistically and regularly. The global theme for World Blood Donor Day 2011 is, “More blood. More life.” This theme reinforces the urgent need for more people all over the world to become life-savers by volunteering to donate blood regularly. Please see Annex A in pdf versionfor more details.
The event also saw an 11% increase in the number of awardees with 169 more awardees. There are 41 Champion of Champions donors this year, twice as many compared to last year. The number of Medal for Life winners has almost tripled, with eight receiving the highest accolade accorded to committed and regular donors who donate blood more than 200 times.
Guest-of-Honour Mr Gan Kim Yong, Minister of Health, said, “I'd encourage new donors to come forward and join the many who are donating blood. To all those individuals, corporate partners and blood mobile teams who are already making a difference, thank you and please continue with this worthy cause and share this precious gift of life.”
Latest blood donation trends show that there are more blood donors, more who are donating regularly as well as more who are donating at a younger age. In 2010, the Blood Donor Recruitment Programme achieved more than 110,000 blood donations, an increase of nearly 4,000 more blood donations compared to the previous year.
Mr Tee Tua Ba, Chairman of the Singapore Red Cross, said, “I am very heartened that more people are committed to donating blood regularly and at an earlier age. I would like to salute our regular blood donors for their goodwill and outstanding commitment. Every effort counts and every unit donated makes a difference.”
From Recipient to Advocate
At the event, 19 year old blood recipient Mr Firdaus Bin Mohd Abdullah, a leukaemia survivor diagnosed with the blood disorder at the tender age of 11, said, “Words can't fully express my gratefulness to those who've selflessly and anonymously donated their blood so that I am given a chance at life. There are so many donors and types of blood donations that have sustained me'. Today, free from leukaemia, Firdaus has made it his mission and passion to help others by actively volunteering at blood drives and events held by the Singapore Red Cross.
Growing Need for Blood
More than 100,000 units of blood are needed annually, just to meet the transfusion needs of patients in Singapore. Additionally, with an ageing population and more sophisticated medical procedures, the demand of blood is increasing. Blood is a life-line for those having medical emergencies and major surgeries, organ transplants, as well as sufferers of cancers and blood disorders like leukaemia, lymphomas.
SINGAPORE RED CROSS & HEALTH SCIENCES AUTHORITY
11 JUNE 2011