The global campaign of the WHO for World Blood Donor Day 2010 is “New blood for the world” aimed at targeting young donors. We need a new generation of idealistic and motivated voluntary unpaid blood donors to form a pool that provides the safest blood possible for use wherever and whenever it is needed to saves lives .
In line with this campaign, the Indonesian Red Cross/Palang Merah Indonesia (PMI) opened it’s first blood donor counter last Monday, 14 June in Senayan City Mall, Jakarta. This purpose of the counter is to support Indonesian Red Cross’s programme to increase the national blood stock over one year. Further counters will be opened at several college and mall across Indonesia. This programme is designed to encourage more people to participate as regular volunteer blood donors. According to a recent ministry of health report, Indonesia needs between three and four million bags of blood each year.
At each blood donor counter, people complete the entire donation process easily and safely. In the waiting room, all of blood donor volunteers can watch PMI video and mini entertainment videos, as well as seeing instant updates on blood needs and news from the PMI website on digital monitors.
“This is my first time as a blood donor volunteer. It’s easy, no pain, and I can enjoy the transfusion process without stress or nervousness. And I can get the digital blood donor card. I can use this card when I donate my blood all over Indonesia,” said Angga (23 years old) after he donated his blood at PMI’s blood donor counter in Senayan City Mall, Jakarta, on 20 June.
Editor’s note: Ayu N. Andini is the Public Relations Officer at Palang Merah Indonesia (Indonesian Red Cross) National Headquarters Indonesian Red Cross and editor of www.pmi.or.id
