RI to observe blood donor day

JAKARTA: Indonesia will observe every June 14 as Blood Donor Day, which will be marked this year by the signing of an agreement between the government, the Indonesian Red Cross (PMI), the International Committee for the Red Cross (ICRC) and the World Health Organization (WHO).

Yuyun Soedarmono, director of PMI's blood transfusion division, said the day would be dedicated to blood donors across the country.

Organizers have chosen the theme for the initial commemoration: Blood, a gift for life. Thank You.

There are only five blood donors for every 1,000 people in the country, who donate 1.2 million blood bags per year, well below the WHO target of 4 million for Indonesia.

Around 80 percent of blood comes from voluntary donors, while the rest is from families of patients. -- JP