PPP supporters donate blood

JAKARTA (JP): Fifty members and supporters of the United Development Party (PPP) donated blood Monday to help the city's dengue fever patients.

Organizers said they were disappointed with the drive because the 17-member Indonesian Red Cross (PMI) medical team refused to take blood after 1 p.m., leaving 200 people willing to donate blood that day without the means to do so.

"We had told potential donors that donation hours would run until late in the afternoon but, unexpectedly, PMI workers would not take blood after 1 p.m.," said Hisbyah, deputy chairman of the PPP city chapter.

In response to the PPP's complaint, PMI officials said they could not keep fresh blood for more than six hours because it would begin to decompose, Antara reported.

The blood drive, held in Tebet, South Jakarta, began at 10 a.m. (pan)