Regular blood donors glad to continue doing good deed

Chia Hooi Lee, a 46-year-old woman, has donated blood 43 times over the past 25 years. She first donated while studying at Universiti Malaya and was encouraged by friends during a campus drive. Chia finds the procedure simple and rewarding, knowing that her donations help save lives. She typically donates blood three to four times a year, with her most recent donation being the third time this year at an event in Sunshine Square, Bayan Baru.

Norsiah Saad, a 53-year-old housewife, is another long-time blood donor. She has donated blood 30 times since starting in 1994. Norsiah feels rejuvenated after each donation, as her body slowly replenishes itself with new blood. She has donated blood in various states across Malaysia.

The blood donation drive in Penang was organized by the Penang Datuk-Datuk Council and the police. The event aimed to collect blood packs for Penang Hospital. In total, 188 blood packs were collected, close to the target of 200 set by the Council’s president, Datuk Seri Abdul Rafique Abdul Karim. The number of donors has decreased during the Covid-19 pandemic due to concerns about infection.

Aside from blood donation, the event also provided free health tests and had a booth dedicated to educating people about organ donation. Penang Deputy Chief Minister I, Datuk Dr Mohamad Abdul Hamid, was also present at the event.