Materia Medica Malaysiana

Fast food for blood donors

The Malaysian Red Crescent Society (MRCS) is offering fast food discount vouchers to encourage more youths to become regular blood donors.
Its vice-chairman Datuk Dr Bahri Abu Mansor said such blood donors could also engage in activities like first-aid training and participate in health talks organised by the MRCS at no charge.
He said the offers were part of the incentives under its Pledge 25 programme targeted at getting those aged between 18 and 25 to become regular blood donors.
“A survey has shown that most youths have untainted blood, unlike those in older age groups,” he told a press conference at the MRCS headquarters here.
Dr Bahri said youths would have to donate blood three times per year after they signed up as Pledge 25 members.
“They will be issued membership cards so they can enjoy the incentives.
“However, we hope the youths will come forward to donate blood voluntarily and sincerely, and not because of the incentives,'' he said, adding that the programme would be launched by the end of the year.
He said the MRCS was in the midst of discussing the programme with the Health Ministry and Higher Education Ministry.
“We hope to set up counters at universities and colleges on the first day of registration so that the students can sign up as members,” he said.
Under the programme, Dr Bahri said, the MRCS would organise blood donation campaigns at the institutions on a regular basis.
At present, youths comprised only 25% to 30% of blood donors, he said.