Blood donation should be “a regular affair” among Singaporeans, as the country’s blood banks “must always have sufficient amounts ready to save lives”, said Progress Singapore Party (PSP) secretary-general, Dr Tan Cheng Bock on Tue (22 Oct).
Narrating his visit to blood banks in Westgate and Dhoby Ghaut for a PSP community blood donation drive called “Giving The Gift of Life” on Sat (19 Oct), Dr Tan said that “it was heartening to see so many volunteers – comprising PSP members and the public – responding to an appeal for donation from type O blood donors.
Dr Tan, who served 50 years as a doctor in his clinic, added: “The staff at both centres were very experienced and helped make everyone feel comfortable. I felt very proud to see so many Singaporeans, including PSP members, respond to the call.”
A nationwide shortage of type O blood was reported in Sep last year, which prompted the Singapore Red Cross and Health Sciences Authority (HSA) to call upon members of the public with type O blood to participate in blood donation drives.
A HSA spokesperson told The Straits Times that type O blood, being a universal blood group, has the highest usage among all blood types, particularly in emergency situations when the patient’s blood type is not known.
Members of the public seeking to make an appointment to donate blood or to obtain further information on the requirements for donating blood may visit the HSA’s Donor Criteria page on its website, or call 6220 0183.
More information on upcoming community blood drives can also be obtained on the Donate Blood page on the Singapore Red Cross website.
Groups intending to organise donations at the blood banks – Bloodbank @ HSA, Bloodbank @ Dhoby Ghaut, Bloodbank @ Woodlands and Bloodbank @ Westgate Tower – may dial the Singapore Red Cross at 6220 0183.
