IPOH, June 22 — The Health Ministry (MOH) is planning to digitalise blood donation books to attract more young donors, announced Health director-general Datuk Dr Muhammad Radzi Abu Hassan.
“Donors will be able to monitor their last donation date, next donation date, details about their latest donation, donation locations, and mobile blood donation campaigns.
“The app will also allow donors to schedule donations appointments. It will be more flexible and user friendly,” he said at the national World Blood Donor Day celebration here today.
Dr Radzi said the MOH is targeting youth aged 17 to 24 years as the next generation of donors.
The ministry aims to have 3.5 per cent of the population become blood donors by 2030, compared with the current 2.3 per cent, he added.
He said the small group of existing blood donors will shrink due to ageing and other factors, so the community must fill the gap.
Meanwhile, Nazran Mohd Nawawi, 47, from Puncak Alam, Selangor, received the Rare Blood Donor Award for donating blood more than 300 times since 1995.
Nazran, who has type O blood, explained his blood type is rare due to the presence of a unique type of platelet crucial for people with certain medical conditions.
“About three years ago, I was informed by medical staff at a blood lab in Kuala Lumpur that only two people, including myself, have this blood type.
“I was told my blood is hard to come by and is crucial for patients with rare diseases,” said the hotel employee.
— Bernama
