PMI targets youths as blood donors

Indonesia observed on Monday the first World Blood Donor Day, with the government setting its sight on encouraging more people, especially youths, to voluntary donate their blood.

The event, which was dedicated to voluntary, non-renumerated blood donors, was marked by the signing of an agreement between the government, the Indonesian Red Cross (PMI), the International Federation of Red Cross (IFRC) and the World Health Organization (WHO).

PMI chairman Mar'ie Muhammad said there would be a higher demand for blood due to the increase in the country's population.

"Therefore, we need to raise the awareness of blood donation and promote our activity among youths," Mar'ie said.

PMI data shows that every year, it collects approximately 1.2 million blood bags, each containing 250 milliliters of blood. That means, only around 0.6 percent of the country's population of 220 million, or five in every 1,000 people, donate their blood.

Of the 1.2 million blood bags collected, Mar'ie said 80 percent of them came from voluntary donors.

"The percentage is not a bad indication, but we want to increase the proportion to 90 percent, or 100 percent if possible," he said.

The WHO has set minimum supply for Indonesia at 4 million blood bags each year. -- JP