KUCHING – Sixty-one students and staff of Swinburne University of Technology Sarawak Campus showed they care when they turned up to give blood at a recent donation campaign which was held at the university.
The campaign was organised by the student Leo Club in collaboration with the Sarawak General Hospital’s Blood Bank. The university’s Voluntary Aide Detachment, a representation of the Malaysian Red Crescent at tertiary level, assisted with the campaign.
“We’re happy with the turnout for today’s collection,” said Noor Hanim Binti Mohd Jennis, the blood donor organiser from the Blood Bank.
“The life span of collected blood is about 35 days so we prefer to have less than a 100 donors at any one time,” she said, adding that the Blood Bank conducts about 25 donation campaigns throughout the year.
Also pleased with the turnout was Danny Lai, Swinburne Sarawak’s Leo Club president. “We created good awareness among our students on blood donation and this is seen in the increased number of donors every year. It is our hope that more will come forward in future,” he said.
First time donor Clement Hii said: “I expected some pain but there was none at all. I think giving blood to those who need it is very meaningful and I will continue to donate in the future,” adding that he will also encourage his friends to do the same.
“This is a worthwhile act so I have been giving blood for the past three years. I hope we’ll continue to have such campaigns here (at Swinburne) and I will contribute even when I leave university,” said Robin Ling, an engineering student who has become a familiar face at blood donation drives at the campus.
Encouraged by his family, he started giving blood when he was still doing a foundation program.