KUALA LUMPUR – Not all heroes wear capes or power suits.
For Amzar Ahmad Annuar, 28, his badge of honour is the bandage on his arm that shows that he has given the gift of life.
The civil servant said he has regularly donated blood out of a sense of responsibility to give back.
“I feel responsible (to donate blood). I feel good every time because I know the hospitals need blood supply all the time.
“So, I feel it is a responsibility of every citizen to donate blood,” he said at the National Blood Centre on Saturday, which was also World Blood Donor Day 2021.
The regular blood donor said that even the Covid-19 pandemic cannot deter him from performing the good deed.
He said those keen to donate need not worry as the process at blood donation drives and centres is done thoroughly and in strict accordance with standard operating procedures (SOPs) to contain the spread of Covid-19.
“I’d be lying if I said I’m not afraid of the virus, but I think it’s not much of a problem because there are SOPs in place.
“As long as we follow the SOPs, it is not a problem at all,” he said.
Likewise, student Wong Jing Hong, 20, shared Amzar’s sentiments, and feels that giving blood is a collective responsibility.
“I don’t think too much about it. I am not afraid, worried or confused.
“I think if you have the ability (to donate), just take up the responsibility and give others blood.
“As we know now, blood supplies are low,” Wong said.
National Blood Centre transfusion medicine specialist Dr Norasrina Ishak said the Covid-19 outbreak and movement control order (MCO) implemented in phases since March last year has affected blood donation and collection efforts.
Time to roll up your sleeves
Dr Norasrina said the lower number of donors is also due to people’s fears of being infected by Covid-19 through the blood donation process, as well as many donation drives having to be cancelled.
“Based on statistics, we saw a decrease in terms of the number of blood donors in Malaysia and at the National Blood Centre (PDN) itself.
“We collected 743,862 bags of blood nationwide in 2019 but this declined by 12.3% last year with only 652,671 blood bags.
“Meanwhile, at the centre, the decline was more apparent, with a drop of 14.3%, where the collection was 199,721 blood bags in 2019 decreased to 171,106 last year,” Dr Norasrina added.
While there is adequate blood stock at press time, she emphasised the need for constant blood supply as it is essential for the healthcare system.
Those who meet the set of criteria and are eligible to donate can do so at PDN in Jalan Tun Razak, the PDN Donation Suite at Midvalley Megamall here, and at blood donation campaign locations organised by PDN and blood banks nationwide. – The Vibes, June 14, 2021
