Health Ministry's blood donors aiming for 3% increase

KUALA TERENGGANU: The Health Ministry is targeting an increase in the number of permanent blood donors in Malaysia to three percent within a period of five years compared with 2.2 percent currently.
Its minister, Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad said the ministry would boost efforts to increase public awareness to donate blood to ensure that there was always adequate supply throughout the country.
"We acknowledge that the number of permanent blood donors in Malaysia was still not in line with that of the other developed countries. This is due to many factors including the level of awareness in Malaysia was still not up to the mark of awareness that this was a noble practice in terms of religious and moral aspects.
"The health education programme and briefings must be enhanced and I am confident the target will be reached in less than five years' time, especially in Terengganu," he said.
He disclosed this to reporters after officiating the appreciation night and the World Blood Donors Day at the national level, here yesterday.
Also present were the Health Director-General Datuk Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah; Director of the National Blood Centre Dr Noryati Abu Amin and the Director of Health Terengganu, Dr Mohammad Omar. — Bernama