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