A

rriving early this morning, I saw hundreds of people lining up to donate blood. There was a spark of joy in their eyes, full of enthusiasm to save life. Despite the long queue, they seemed eager to contribute.

First Lady Ani Yudhoyono was one of dozens of volunteers who participated in the three-day blood donation event held by Bank Indonesia annually, in cooperation with the Indonesian Red Cross (PMI). She said it was her second time to donate blood. Asked the reason, she said it was the least act of charity she could make, a noble cause to save life.

'€œFirst time, I was afraid it would hurt and affect my health. To my surprise, it was easy and painless. I felt healthier afterwards. And I always get a goodie bag in return.'€

I knew the organizing committee always offered attractive gifts to attract more donors, from cheap smartphones to traveling bags. It is always a great success.

According to the PMI, there is always a constant lack of blood despite the vigorous campaigns for blood donation. Indonesia needs to recruit more that 4.8 million regular blood donors annually, about 2 percent of the total population. However, only 3.5 million blood donations can be collected on a regular basis because so few people are aware of the importance of giving blood.

This leaves a staggering shortfall of 1.3 million donors-worth of blood supply, preventing a substantial amount of life-saving blood transfusions. The PMI along with various institutions hold blood drives regularly to cope with the shortage.

Blood centers around the country are increasingly relying on small tokens of appreciation '€” gift cards or goodie bags '€” to entice blood donors. At a time when fewer people are giving blood, these gifts can often lead to more donations, at least in the short term.

I remember three years ago, my cousin suffered a severe hemorrhage after giving birth to a baby girl. Her face was ashen-white, as if a ferocious vampire had drained her blood.

Her doctor said she needed a blood transfusion immediately at least five ampoules (blood bags). The hospital could only provide three ampoules so we needed to immediately find blood donors to make up the shortfall.

Thank God, my aunt had a matching blood type. Some of the neighbors also volunteered to donate. It was a critical situation of life and death. We still regard it a miracle to get her back alive after such a crisis. It was indeed a gift of life. The experience relates to the idea that saving a life without doubt incites a feeling of heroism.

In addition, the success of major medical operations is not without the essential, though often overlooked foundation: blood donors. What'€™s more is that research findings have discovered donating blood can help reduce the risk of heart attacks and cancer; and be beneficial for weight watchers as people burn up 650 calories with every pint donated.

Yuni Herlina
Depok, West Java