“We want to bring people closer to the blood donor centers so that blood donation becomes second nature,” said PMI’s chairman Jusuf Kalla during the official launch of a blood donation unit in Crystal Lagoon, Lower Ground of Senayan City mall, South Jakarta, Monday.

He added that currently Indonesia faced a shortage in blood donations. According to the international standard, a country should ideally have at least two percent of blood supply from its total population.

“It means that we need 4.8 million bags of blood, while now PMI can only produce about 1.9 million bags each year,” said Jusuf.

He added that PMI targeted healthy young generation and middle class to increase good quality blood supplies.

Fresh blood: People donate blood Monday at Senayan City mall, Jakarta. Indonesian Red Cross chairman Jusuf Kalla launched a national blood drive campaign Monday that features donation booths in public places, such as shopping centers and campuses.JP/R. Berto Wedhatama

“That’s why we have chosen malls and universities where there’s a large concentration of people every day,” he said.

PMI, he added, set up permanent counters in malls with at least 20,000 visitors every day and in universities which have more than 20,000 students.

“After this we also plan to build factories to produce blood bags and needles, so that in the next two years we will have an independent blood system,” he said.

In Jakarta, PMI also plans to open new units in Tanah Abang shopping center, Trisakti University, and the State Islamic University, while it expected to build another six units in East Java and South Sulawesi provinces.

The health minister’s assistant for medicolegal affairs Faiq Bahfen said that a sufficient supply of
good quality blood that was easily accessible was crucial to support the government’s aims of decreasing the maternal mortality rate.  

In 2007 data showed the country’s maternal mortality rate reached 228 deaths per 100,000 births, with 20 to 40 percent of the cases caused by excessive bleeding.

“We can prevent death by anticipating the causes and handling them promptly,” he said, highlighting the importance of good quality blood in emergency situations.

Safe blood transfer, he said, was also needed to overcome degenerative diseases, accident injuries and blood anomalies.  

“We also hope to increase maternal health and reduce the infection of HIV/AIDS by providing a sufficient supply of blood,” he said.  

He said the establishment of blood donor centers in malls and universities would increase voluntary blood donations, which would  in turn support the government’s efforts to provide blood services to the public.  

Chief executive officer of Senayan City Handaka Santosa said the blood donor centers would complement the routine blood donations that are held regularly in a number of shopping centers.

“During the soft opening yesterday of the permanent blood donation center we had around 25 visitors and they showed a good response,” he said. (lnd)

The establishment of blood donor centers in malls and universities will increase voluntary blood donations.

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