Jakarta, 23 October 2022 -- The Indonesian Red Cross (PMI) together with Brawijaya University Alumni Association (IKA UB), and PT Bank Negara Indonesia (Persero) Tbk or BNI held a humanitarian event for the third time, namely the Blood Donor Program. The program targets 1,000 blood bags from participants during the event on Sunday (23 October 2022) at Gelora Bung Karno, Jakarta.
As is known, the blood stock at PMI is reportedly still below the required level. This is due to the imbalance between the blood demand, which is much higher than the number of donors.
The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated these blood collection efforts. During the pandemic that has hit Indonesia since early 2020, people were afraid to donate blood. The Blood Donor Program was encouraged considering that there are still many patients who need additional blood regularly, such as people with Thalassemia.
For this reason, IKA UB invites the public to donor blood, while still observing health protocols at a blood stock raising event entitled “One Country, One Nation, One Language, One Blood, Indonesia”.
"This activity is a form of real action and humanitarian call of IKA UB, with the theme One Country - One Nation - One Language - One Blood Indonesia. As well as welcoming Youth Pledge Day. We invite all humanitarian fighters to dare to donate during the pandemic. We must not be silent to see our brothers and sisters having difficulty getting blood," said IKA UB Daily Chairperson, Sis Apik Wijayanto, in Jakarta, Sunday (23 Oktober 2022).
In addition to Sis Apik, DKI Jakarta Acting Governor Heru Budi Hartono, musician and Blood Donor Ambassador of the House of Representatives Krisdayanti, Governor of DKI Jakarta in 2017 who is also an alumnus of IKA UB Djarot Saiful Hidayat, and UB Vice Rector for Student Affairs Prof. Abdul Hakim were also present.
Sis Apik added that the health protocol during the Blood Donor Program is carried out by replacing the bed mattress for each donor and the room has been repeatedly disinfected before implementation. Thus, it is hoped that it will reduce donors' concerns about the threat of Covid - 19.
"We hope that the 3rd Blood Donor Movement action is organized as a social action that helps others. Together with PMI and in the framework of Youth Pledge Day, we help realize a healthy Indonesia, without setting aside vigilance against this pandemic," said Sis Apik.
"We from IKA UB will continue to actively invite Blood Donation to become a life style that is beneficial to others. May we never get tired of being good people, always doing good that is beneficial to others. THIS IS MY BLOOD, WHERE IS YOUR BLOOD," added Sis Apik.
Donoring Again
In the mean time, BNI Corporate Secretary Okki Rushartomo said, "People are expected to start donoring blood again in this new normal era. All activities will be accompanied by strict health protocols," he said.
As in previous years, the blood donor event was held at Gelora Bung Karno, Jakarta. Interest in donors is still very high, as seen from the enthusiasm of prospective donors who registered for the event, both from the general public, the automotive community, the runner community, and the service community.
Even on the day of the event, there were still many donors who contacted the committee to registe.
"Our highest appreciation goes to the fighters of humanity. On behalf of the committee, I apologize if there are still many donors that we cannot accommodate due to limitations and the application of physical distancing," concluded Dida Sarkan as the Chief Executive of the IKA UB Blood Donor. (*)