I hope this article would be good enough for singapore males
still living in self-denial to realize the wonders of SAF and
National Slavery ! WTG doctor!
Dec 13, 2005
NSmen under pressure to donate blood
I REFER to the article, 'Five HIV blood donors jailed for lying'
(ST, Dec 
. I note that two of the offenders had
donated blood in army-camp drives.
I had previously worked with the Blood Transfusion Service and had
been involved in many blood-donation drives, among which were those
organised with Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) army camps.
As a medical doctor in charge of those drives, I noted that the
superiors in some camps granted each serviceman who donated half a
day off.
Other units were promised weekends off (that was before SAF
implemented the five-day work week) if the blood-donation drives
hit their targeted number of donors.
I did not doubt the altruism of these army superiors who wanted to
ensure successful blood-donation drives, but in doing so they
overlooked the power of peer pressure. Having also been an army
serviceman, I had experienced the power of peer pressure and how it
could coerce one into doing something one would not normally
do.
In this instance, if a serviceman was found unsuitable to donate
blood, he might have to provide a reasonable excuse when questioned
by his peers or superiors. He might be embarrassed or even
ostracised if he told the truth.
Secondly, if the army camp tagged on a reward for each donation
given, the pressure to donate blood mounted. It was most
demoralising when one did not get to book out of camp while other
camp mates got to enjoy a half day off for making a donation.
Furthermore, if an entire unit had been promised a 'long' weekend
off for meeting the target number of donors, every serviceman would
be even more pressurised to donate blood.
Enjoying a long weekend might not be the most important thing in
such an instance. What mattered was that one did not get blamed and
ostracised for being among the few who cost the entire unit the
enjoyment of a long weekend.
Donating blood is an altruistic act that relies heavily on the
sincerity, truthfulness and responsibility of each donor. However,
in many instances, strong external influences and 'obligations'
force unsuitable donors to lie to get through the pre-donation
screening.
Organisers of blood-donation drives should refrain from
pressurising potential donors through the use of rewards. They must
understand that there will always be some people who will not be
suitable candidates to donate blood, whether because of health
reasons or an unsuitable travel or sexual history. Whatever the
case, their reasons are private ones and should remain so.
While I acknowledge that the SAF has made major contributions to
our nation's blood supply, and I do not ascribe blame to the army
camps which organised the donation drives in which the two
offenders participated, I hope the SAF will modify the way it
rewards its servicemen for donating blood so that blood donation
becomes a more altruistic activity that contributes to safer blood
products for patient-recipients.
Dr Tan Hong Wui
Need more proof to show how NSmen are treated like slaves of the
country instead of soldiers? as leaching your labor and money isn't
enough now they want to leach your blood dry!
