Some of the Indian community members donating blood at the blood donation campaign at The Mall, Gadong. Picture: BT/Rasidah Bakar
Monday, November 15, 2010
BLOOD donation campaigns can bring in donors with rare blood groups needed in emergency cases, Dr Ajmal Khan from the Raja Isteri Pengiran Anak Saleha (Ripas) Hospital yesterday said.
Speaking at the blood donation campaign at The Mall in Gadong, Dr Ajmal said, "The advantage of such campaign is that we are able to bring out the rare blood group donors in the country. The rare blood groups are A, A-, AB- ( and all the negative blood groups)".
Finding the rare blood groups is not only the reason behind this yearly blood donation campaign. The doctor explained that since blood can only be kept for three months, this is why it was important to have enough supply of blood.
Mohd Kassim Abdul Wahab, a 33-year-old physiotherapist at Ripas Hospital, said they expected about 100 to 150 donors yesterday.
Kassim said some people are afraid to donate blood. "This is why we talk and explain to them what blood donation is all about," he said.
Ripas Hospital personnel also took the time to increase the public's awareness on the significance of giving blood.
"We also went around the Gadong area and talk with the people on the importance of donating blood and its benefits," Dr Ajmal said.
Dr Ajmal said, "Many of the people who donate are working class people. This is why we held the blood donation campaign on a Sunday, so that they can come."
Dr Ajmal added that they have not decided yet where to organise the campaign next year. "Usually we just discussed among friends on where we want to hold the campaign," he said.
This is the fourth year that they conducted the blood donation campaign.
"We hold the campaign annually, usually we select several places. The first was in Muara, then Serusop and today at The Mall," Kassim said.
The blood donation began at first as a way for the Indian community to contribute to the country, he added.
"Our group of friends wants to bring together the Indian community and contribute. Blood donation is one of the ways to contribute," he said.
"The Indian community are scattered all over Brunei, that is why we chose to organise the campaign in several places. We also provide transportation for them," Kassim added.
"We want to contribute to Brunei, and by organising this blood donation campaign, we are providing the platform for our Indian community to do so," Kassim added.
The campaign not only saw the participation of the Indian community, but also from other communities in the Sultanate.
Hj Taha Maidin from Kg Negalang Temburong heard about the campaign during his medical check-up the day before in Ripas hospital. His donation yesterday marked his 29th.
Hj Taha donates blood four times a year, and now at 59 years old, he still donates whenever the opportunity arises.
"Donating blood is important as our blood can help save lives," he said.
An Indian national, Sheikh Allaudeen Abd Rashid Allaudeen, said: " Islam teaches us to help one another. This is one form of help that I can give."
Sheikh Allaudeen who has the blood type O, was at the campaign with 10 of his friends, all Indian nationals.
He said, "Dr Ajmal told us that there is a blood donation campaign so we all come to donate. We also talked with the Indian nationals around this area and encourage them to donate blood together with us".
The 40-year-old employee of a courier service company resides in Menglait, and it was his third time donating blood.
courtesy of--The Brunei Times
Speaking at the blood donation campaign at The Mall in Gadong, Dr Ajmal said, "The advantage of such campaign is that we are able to bring out the rare blood group donors in the country. The rare blood groups are A, A-, AB- ( and all the negative blood groups)".
Finding the rare blood groups is not only the reason behind this yearly blood donation campaign. The doctor explained that since blood can only be kept for three months, this is why it was important to have enough supply of blood.
Mohd Kassim Abdul Wahab, a 33-year-old physiotherapist at Ripas Hospital, said they expected about 100 to 150 donors yesterday.
Kassim said some people are afraid to donate blood. "This is why we talk and explain to them what blood donation is all about," he said.
Ripas Hospital personnel also took the time to increase the public's awareness on the significance of giving blood.
"We also went around the Gadong area and talk with the people on the importance of donating blood and its benefits," Dr Ajmal said.
Dr Ajmal said, "Many of the people who donate are working class people. This is why we held the blood donation campaign on a Sunday, so that they can come."
Dr Ajmal added that they have not decided yet where to organise the campaign next year. "Usually we just discussed among friends on where we want to hold the campaign," he said.
This is the fourth year that they conducted the blood donation campaign.
"We hold the campaign annually, usually we select several places. The first was in Muara, then Serusop and today at The Mall," Kassim said.
The blood donation began at first as a way for the Indian community to contribute to the country, he added.
"Our group of friends wants to bring together the Indian community and contribute. Blood donation is one of the ways to contribute," he said.
"The Indian community are scattered all over Brunei, that is why we chose to organise the campaign in several places. We also provide transportation for them," Kassim added.
"We want to contribute to Brunei, and by organising this blood donation campaign, we are providing the platform for our Indian community to do so," Kassim added.
The campaign not only saw the participation of the Indian community, but also from other communities in the Sultanate.
Hj Taha Maidin from Kg Negalang Temburong heard about the campaign during his medical check-up the day before in Ripas hospital. His donation yesterday marked his 29th.
Hj Taha donates blood four times a year, and now at 59 years old, he still donates whenever the opportunity arises.
"Donating blood is important as our blood can help save lives," he said.
An Indian national, Sheikh Allaudeen Abd Rashid Allaudeen, said: " Islam teaches us to help one another. This is one form of help that I can give."
Sheikh Allaudeen who has the blood type O, was at the campaign with 10 of his friends, all Indian nationals.
He said, "Dr Ajmal told us that there is a blood donation campaign so we all come to donate. We also talked with the Indian nationals around this area and encourage them to donate blood together with us".
The 40-year-old employee of a courier service company resides in Menglait, and it was his third time donating blood.
courtesy of--The Brunei Times
No comments:
Post a Comment