DESPITE the ongoing movement control order (MCO) to check the Covid-19 pandemic, the Penang Development Corporation (PDC) will continue to hold its annual blood donation campaign this year.
PDC chief executive officer Datuk Mohd Bazid Abd Kahar said they would hold the event for the 15th consecutive year this year at three places, namely at PDC (in-house) in Bayan Baru on March 3, Concourse at Level 3, Komtar on Sept 1 & 2, and Mydin Mall in Bukit Mertajam on Nov 27. The event will start from 9am to 4pm.
“Donating blood is a noble gesture because the donated blood can save the life of someone who desperately needs it.
“Each pint of blood donated can help up to three patients who need it.
“The practice of donating blood not only cultivate good values in every human being but also create a social responsibility for the global community,” Mohd Bazid told a press conference at PDC today.
He said since the PDC blood donation campaign started in 2007, they have collected a total of 5,159 pints of blood.
“If one pint of blood can help three persons, this blood collected so far has helped over 15,000 people.
“Last year, we collected a total of 469 pints of blood compared to 317 pints in 2019. This year, we target to collect 500 pints of blood.
“We will hold the blood donation campaign under strict standard operating procedures (SOPs), so blood donors don’t have to worry,” Mohd Bazid added.
He also thanked Penang Hospital, the Penang Civil Service Sports and Welfare Council (Maksak) and Mydin Mall for collaborating with PDC to make the event a success.
Also present at the press conference were PDC deputy chief executive officer Jamil Ibrahim, Penang Hospital representatives Dr Yap Pau Yee and Lina Diyana Ibrahim, Maksak representatives Imran Rosli and Yusbita Yaacob.
Lina Diyana thanked PDC for consistently helping the Penang Hospital blood bank. The Penang Hospital, according to Dr Yap, often calls up their regular donors as the hospital uses about 80 to 100 pints of blood per day.
Imran said Maksak would call up its 20,000 members to support the blood donative drive.
As a surprise to many, PDC unveiled its official mascot for the blood donation campaign at the end of the press conference.
Named ‘Red Spear’, the mascot was dressed like a superman but with a white top and black pants, and a red cloak over his shoulders. He was armed with a spear, which has a big heart-shaped logo attached to its top carrying the words, Donate Blood, Be A Hero.
Story by K.H. Ong
Pix by Adleena Rahayu Ahmad Radzi