Over 45,000 pints collected by MRC Sarawak from blood donations in 2024 — Chairman

Borneo Post

5 days ago

Ting, flanked by Dr Chan (seated, third left) and Chua, in a group photo with (seated, from right) Hii, Lau, Dr Teng and others. — Photo by Peter Boon
SIBU (July 7): The Sarawak Chapter of Malaysian Red Crescent (MRC) recorded 45,707 pints of blood last year.
In announcing this, the chapter's chairman Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Dr George Chan attributed this achievement to the encouraging contributions from the regular donors and those who participated in many mobile donation drives.
'This is an outstanding achievement, but as we know, the need for blood is never-ending.
'We need to increase our efforts to ensure that we would have a steady supply for the growing medical needs of our people.
'We aim to collect more pints this year, and I am confident that with the continued support of this community, we can meet and surpass that goal,' he spoke at the division-level 'World Blood Donor Day 2025' here yesterday, where Sibu Municipal Council (SMC) chairman Clarence Ting represented the Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Dr Sim Kui Hian.
Adding on Dr Chan, a former deputy chief minister, hailed blood donors as 'true heroes, whose impact extended far beyond just one life '.
Meanwhile, MRC Sibu branch vice-chairperson cum event's organising head Dr Rachel Teng, said in Malaysia, 2,000 to 2,200 bags of blood is needed every day just to meet the needs of about 1,000 patients.
'This demand remains consistent throughout the year: during holidays, school breaks, and even the pandemics.
'In 2024, Malaysia collected around 800,000 bags.
'This stands as an achievement to be proud of, but it still falls short of our national target, which is to have three per cent of the population donating blood regularly.
'At present, we are averaging between 2.2 per cent and 2.5 per cent. The gap may seem small, but in a country of over 30 million people, it means thousands of patients may not receive timely transfusions.'
On Sarawak, Dr Teng said the state recorded the highest per-capita blood donation rate in Malaysia.
'Approximately 1.6 per cent of our eligible population, aged 17 to 65, donated blood in the past year.
'In Sibu alone, 8,317 bags were collected by Hospital Sibu, with the district hospitals across the central region of Sarawak contributing additional 4,519 bags.
'In total, that's 12,836 bags collected in just one year – a remarkable achievement for our region,' she said.
Nevertheless, Dr Teng also stressed about the importance of acknowledging emerging challenges.
'The blood collection trends are declining compared to those recorded in previous years.
'This is largely due to an ageing population and a noticeable drop in younger donors stepping forward.
'This is why continuous donors' recruitment is critical. We must actively engage our youths, educate the public, and foster a culture where blood donation is seen as a civic duty and a source of pride.'
However, Dr Teng said there was also much to celebrate.
'Sarawak records the highest percentage of regular blood donors in Malaysia. While the national target is for 65 per cent of donations to come from regular donors, in Sibu, that number is above 80 per cent.
'This is a testament to the dedication of our people and the strong blood donation culture that we've built together.
'The success of the central region, especially in Sibu, would not have been achievable without the strong collaboration between government agencies, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), and the local communities.
'The partnership between the MRC and Hospital Sibu is a perfect example of what we can accomplish when we work together toward a common goal.'
Among those present at the event were Sibu MP Oscar Ling, MRC Sibu advisor Temenggong Dato Vincent Lau, MRC Sibu chairman Penghulu Chua Hiong Kee, and deputy chairman Hii Sieh Toh. blood donation blood donors george chan lead Malaysian Red Crescent