Materia Medica Malaysiana

Blood donation drive by federation

A blood donation campaign will be carried out simultaneously at 28 locations in 12 States on June 19.
The drive is organised by the Federation of I-Kuan Tao Associations Malaysia, whose members have been conducting annual blood donation campaigns since its inception in 2001.
Its president, Khoo Kim Siong, said the drive is one of their ways to fulfil the federation’s purpose of establishing a more honourable and ethical society.
“We hope to achieve a record of more than 3,000 packets of blood (almost 1,500 litres) in the campaign,” said Khoo yesterday at the federation’s office in Taman Tasik Titiwangsa here.
He said this is the first time the federation, a Confucian group, is holding a joint blood donation campaign with all its associations taking part, compared to individual campaigns in the previous years.
Also at yesterday’s Press conference was Youth and Sports Deputy Minister Datuk Ong Tee Keat.
Ong said the increase in public support for blood donation has improved.
“A decade ago, people were reluctant to donate their blood,” he said.
“Now, we see a conspicuous mind shift, especially among the Chinese community.”
Apart from the June 19 project, the federation is also conducting blood donation drives in Selangor and Penang on June 12, and at two places in Kedah on June 17.
The federation can be reached at 03-4024-2462.