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Straits Times
12-07-2025
- Business
- Straits Times
Singapore charity raises $200k in donations for victims of Myanmar quake
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox The funds will go towards Singapore Red Cross relief efforts, which include distributing essentials to quake victims. SINGAPORE - Singaporeans raised $200,000 in humanitarian aid for the victims of the March earthquake that struck Myanmar , with tremors that were felt in neighbouring Thailand. In a statement on July 12, Singapore charity Rahmatan Lil Alamin Foundation (RLAF) said the amount was raised between April 2 and April 30 in a tie up with the Singapore Red Cross (SRC). The funds will go towards SRC relief efforts, which include distributing essentials such as food, water, and blankets, to quake victims. RLAF handed over the donations to SRC on July 12, and Acting Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim attended the ceremony. Associate Professor Faishal, who is also Senior Minister of State for Home Affairs, said: 'This campaign is a testament to the power of collaboration, compassion, and shared responsibility.' He added that he was heartened by how Singaporeans came together to chip in for a common cause. He said: 'RLAF and SRC's partnership reflects our national ethos of being a caring and outward-looking society - one that responds not only to local needs but also steps up for its neighbours in need.' Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Asia Air India crash report shows pilot confusion over engine switch movement Singapore More NSFs may be recruited to tackle scams: Police Singapore $3 cashback for hawker centre meals and shopping at heartland stores with DBS PayLah initiative Singapore 40% more sign-ups to programmes for adult learners at institutes of higher learning in last 5 years Singapore Wegovy, injectable drug used to treat obesity, now available via prescription in Singapore Business NTT DC Reit's Singapore public offer 9.8 times oversubscribed Multimedia Which floor is this? Chongqing's maze-like environment powers its rise as a megacity Singapore Over 20 motorists caught offering illegal ride-hailing services at Changi Airport and Gardens by the Bay On March 28, a 7.7-magnitude earthquake hit the Sagaing region of Myanmar.
Straits Times
28-06-2025
- Health
- Straits Times
First-time blood donor age limit to be raised from 60 to 65 from Jan 1: Ong Ye Kung
First-time blood donor age limit to be raised from 60 to 65 from Jan 1: Ong Ye Kung SINGAPORE - The upper age limit for first-time blood donors in Singapore will be raised from 60 to 65 from January 1, 2026, with improvement in life expectancy and people getting stronger in their older years. The move to expand the blood donor pool comes amid local data that shows adverse donor reactions, like like fainting and dizziness, decreases among first-time donors as they get older, Health Minister Ong Ye Kung said on June 28. This change also aligns with practices in territories such as Hong Kong, Taiwan, Ireland, the Netherlands, South Korea and United Kingdom. These countries and cities generally allow first-time donors aged 65 to 69. The current first-time donation age limit is 60. Once a person has donated blood before, they can continue to do so up to the day before their 66th birthday. Mr Ong made the announcement to raise the age limit at a World Blood Donor Day event by the Singapore Red Cross (SRC) and the Health Sciences Authority (HSA). 'Each blood donation saves up to three lives, such as a child battling cancer, a mother in labour or an elderly person undergoing surgery,' he said at the event at the Marina Bay Sands Expo and Convention Centre. In 2023, more than 35,000 patients in Singapore received life-saving blood transfusions . The health minister recounted how his mother needed quite a bit of blood transfusion in the past as she was sick, but he would always get rejected at the blood bank when trying to donate as he lived in the UK in the 1980s. Singapore used to restrict blood donations from people who had lived in the UK due to concerns over the Variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (vCJD) linked to the consumption of contaminated beef. The worry was valid, Mr Ong said, but he was thankful that he can now donate blood after HSA eased restrictions for blood donations through aphresis in 2023. Whole blood donations collect the blood with all its components, while apheresis donations collect specific blood components such as plasma or platelets. More than 2,000 blood donors and 37 organisations were lauded at the event on June 28 . SRC and HSA said in a joint statement that these contributions are significant given the current challenges facing Singapore's blood supply. 'As Singapore approaches super-aged status in 2026, ensuring a sustainable blood supply is becoming more urgent,' they said. Singapore's ageing population presents a challenge as patients aged 60 and above now account for 60 per cent of total red blood cell usage, yet the pool of eligible donors is shrinking pool, they added. New blood donor numbers have declined by more than 11 per cent since 2013. Singapore had around 18,000 new donors in 2024, down from more than 20,000 in 2013. Minister for Health Ong Ye Kung delivers his speech during the World Blood Donor Day 2025 Award Ceremony at Marina Bay Sands Expo & Convention on June 28. ST PHOTO: GIN TAY Many donate blood, bu t only four in 10 donors give more than once a year, SRC and HSA said. 'This low rate of repeat donation underscores the urgent need to cultivate more committed, regular donors who make blood donation part of their lifestyle.' SRC and HSA have partnered workplaces to grow the donor pool, encouraging organisations over the past year to 'adopt' a bloodbank and promote blood donation among employees. At the June 28 event, three organisations - Buddhist temple Varadhatus Ratanarama Association, Combat Service Support Command by The Singapore Army, and the Singapore Bangladesh Society - were recognised with a new award, for each donating more than 40 units of blood annually. The Adopt the Bloodbank Award aims to boost participation beyond one -off blood drives and encourages organisations to take sustained ownership over the bloodbank they adopt. Youth is also another target group of donors. The YouthInspire club, launched in 2024 to encourage youth aged 16 to 25 to donate blood, has since drawn 450 young people to run donor recruitment events and campaigns. A new Blood Donation Advocacy Challenge held in partnership with the National Youth Council (NYC), will launch in 2025 for youth between 16 to 25 years old. Those interested can look out for updates on the HeyBloodBuddy Instagram page. Teams will develop campaigns to boost youth donations, with three finalists presenting their ideas at the inaugural National Blood Dialogue in September. Winners will receive the NYC Young ChangeMakers grant of up to $3,000 or $5,000 to bring their campaigns to life . Mr Elvis Chung, 52, was diagnosed with thalassemia major when he was seven, and received occasional blood transfusions in his early years. ST PHOTO: GIN TAY Mr Elvis Chung, 52, was diagnosed with thalassemia major when he was seven, and received occasional blood transfusions in his early years. The condition is an inherited blood disorder that affects the body's ability to produce haemoglobin and healthy red blood cells. Since 2019, he has received regular blood transfusions once every three weeks. He said: 'Thanks to your donations, I've enjoyed a fulfilling career of almost 30 years in auditing and banking. You might never meet the people who receive your blood, but you make a real difference. Your gift gives us life, hope and dignity.' Join ST's WhatsApp Channel and get the latest news and must-reads.
AsiaOne
26-06-2025
- Entertainment
- AsiaOne
Customise your own Barbie for a cause at charity event featuring over 1,000 dolls on a runway, Lifestyle News
Barbie dolls are taking over Marina Square for a good cause. From now until July 1, the shopping mall's central atrium has been transformed into a charity exhibition called Wings of Art 2025. The event will feature Singapore's longest Barbie doll runway at 60m long, as recognised by the Singapore Book of Records, and is made up of more than 1,000 limited-edition Barbie dolls. These dolls are available for public "adoption", as the exhibition aims to raise $100,000 for underprivileged children through the Singapore Red Cross Young Hearts Programme. A doll is priced at $75 on weekdays and $85 on weekends. Upon adopting a Barbie at the exhibition, visitors can use the art supplies available to customise their dolls. Once completed, the dolls can either be taken home as a souvenir or donated to the runway. Donated dolls will later be gifted to underprivileged children. Those interested to donate their crafted Barbies are encouraged to register at the event website ( ahead of time as slots are limited. In line with SG60 celebrations, 60 local artists have also designed their very own customised Barbies for the runway. This includes actress Jayley Woo, pastry chef Janice Wong, theatre director Selena Tan and Isaac Chang, a nine-year-old artist with autism. These dolls are available for public bidding at an online charity auction, and 100 per cent of the proceeds will go to charity. Apart from the runway and auction, visitors to Wings of Art 2025 can look forward to a custom-designed lightbox, play interactive games and booths at a carnival and participate in workshops and community showcases. [[nid:705404]] amierul@
Straits Times
11-06-2025
- Health
- Straits Times
Forum: Efforts under way to encourage organisations, youth to support blood donations
Forum: Efforts under way to encourage organisations, youth to support blood donations We thank Mr Ivan Ong for advocating the importance of blood donation (More youth, corporate support needed for blood donations, June 4). Blood donation is a voluntary act, and time off for donating blood may be awarded at organisations' discretion. The Civil Service has taken the lead to allow public officers to use their volunteer leave for blood donation. This demonstrates the Civil Service's strong commitment to the National Blood Programme in securing the nation's blood supply. To galvanise more corporate involvement, Singapore Red Cross and the Health Sciences Authority actively collaborate with organisations to host community bloodmobile drives, conduct employee educational talks, and encourage group donations at any of the five Bloodbanks islandwide. We also encourage organisations and their chief executives to 'Adopt a Bloodbank' by pledging at least 40 staff donations every year. This initiative fosters long-term donor engagement and cultivates a sense of shared ownership and social responsibility in ensuring a safe and sufficient blood supply. To inspire more youth to step forward, our YouthInspire club works closely with interest groups and celebrity fan clubs to organise thematic drives at the Bloodbanks. These efforts not only promote peer-to-peer recruitment, but also help debunk misconceptions, and embed blood donation into the youth lifestyle. We invite youth to follow the @heybloodbuddy account on Instagram and TikTok and join our upcoming activities. We welcome all youth and community members to join our upcoming World Blood Donor Day celebration at Marina Bay Sands on June 28 themed, 'One Community, Many Lifesavers'. We thank all regular donors for their continued support and echo Mr Ong's call for more individuals and organisations to champion this life-saving cause. Together, we can ensure a resilient and sustainable national blood programme for all. Prakash Menon Srikumaran Group Director, Blood Donor Programme Singapore Red Cross Dr Ang Ai Leen Group Director, Blood Services Group Health Sciences Authority More on this Topic Forum: What readers are saying Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Straits Times
03-06-2025
- General
- Straits Times
Forum: More youth, corporate support needed for blood donation efforts
T he theme for World Blood Donor Day 2025 is 'Give blood, give hope: together we save lives'. While blood donations in Singapore have increased – 79,365 donors in 2024, up 24 per cent since 2010 – challenges remain. Youth participation has declined sharply: Only 14 per cent of donors were aged 16 to 25 in 2024, compared with 33 per cent in 2010. New donor numbers have also fallen, from 21,420 in 2016 to 17,817 in 2024. Despite more donors overall, the number of donations per 1,000 people remains low at 21.2. To address this, the Health Sciences Authority and Singapore Red Cross are aiming to grow the youth donor pool to 30 per cent by 2030 through programmes like YouthInspired and partnerships with schools and civic groups. Corporations also play a crucial role. Beyond hosting blood drives, companies should consider enabling participation such as offering time off to build a culture of regular donation. I hope more corporations will take steps – not just as organisers but also as active enablers – to encourage their employees to give blood and give hope. Ivan Ong More on this Topic Forum: What readers are saying Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
