Megawati honors 500 blood donors

Megawati honors 500 blood donors

JAKARTA: President Megawati Soekarnoputri on Wednesday awarded
medals to 500 people who have donated their blood more than 100
times.

The donors were conferred with Satyalencana medals, an award
for social work.

Megawati said donating blood could enhance brotherhood among
people, given the fact that donors never designated to whom their
blood should be given.

The president called on the rest of the nation to follow in
the footsteps of the donors.

The award presentation, an annual ceremony during Soeharto's
era, was suspended for four years due to the economic crisis.

Also attending the ceremony were Megawati's husband Taufik
Kiemas, Coordinating Minister for Social Welfare Jusuf Kalla,
Minister of Social Affairs Bachtiar Chamsyah and Indonesian Red
Cross (PMI) chairman Mari'e Muhammad. --JP