RI to observe blood donor day

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