Singapore Red Cross facing shortage of
blood
By May Wong, Channel NewsAsia
Posted: 30 December 2006 1838 hrs
SINGAPORE: The Singapore Red Cross is facing a shortage of blood
again this year, especially with more accidents and
surgeries.
The target is to get 85,000 packets of blood.
But it has only collected 82,000 packets so far.
Getting more people to donate blood has always been an uphill
task.
And the year-end holiday and the wet weather didn't help.
Singapore Red Cross' Elaine Tham said: "Every day, you would need
about 300 donors walking in to donate blood. However at this period
of time, we only have between 150 and 200. So we have a shortfall
on a daily basis. And we would relate this to the rain. With the
heavy rain, people are sort of deterred and also during this time,
people are going on holidays. The festive season, people are so
busy with shopping."
So Red Cross Volunteers have prepared brochures to encourage and
remind people to donate blood.
And their pleas have not fallen on deaf ears.
23-year-old student Desmond Wang made it a point to donate blood,
especially during the festive period.
He said: "We should also remember that there are people out there
who need blood during this festive season, so we should actually
come forth and donate our blood and this gift of life. I actually
lost my mother at the age of nine. So I understand the sorrow of
losing a loved one. So to me, blood donation is all about giving
hope."
For one man who has donated over 170 packets of blood for some 40
years, this is as good a time as any to donate blood.
Mr Choo Soen Keng said: "I just felt the need to give back what I
was given - a life in Singapore. It's sort of an obligation to make
sure that I help others. My hope is that all of us, Singaporeans,
are more givers than takers. Then, everyone will be well taken care
of."
