Government appeals for blood donations to save lives (with photos)

     A two-day blood donation drive is being held at the Central Government Offices from today (July 18) to encourage government employees to support the call of the Hong Kong Red Cross Blood Transfusion Service (BTS) by donating blood regularly to save lives.

     The Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Matthew Cheung Kin-chung, together with the Secretary for Food and Health, Professor Sophia Chan, and colleagues of various policy bureaux, visited the blood donation venue to show the Government's enthusiastic support.

     The BTS, which provides blood to all public and private hospitals in Hong Kong for patients' use, is currently conducting blood collection exercises at various government departments. In the next few months, the BTS will arrange for blood donation to take place at different government departments as well as collaborate with some government departments and offices to organise events for public participation.
  
     Mr Cheung said, "With an ageing population, the demand for blood supply will constantly increase. In 2017, the total figures of donor attendance and successful blood collection dropped by around 5 per cent as compared with 2016 levels. Furthermore, 22 per cent of donations from prospective donors were deferred for various reasons, with more than half of such deferrals due to low haemoglobin levels among donors.

     "There is no substitute for blood, and the shelf life of blood is limited. The BTS needs regular blood donation by the public in order to ensure a sufficient blood supply for needy patients for daily transfusions. A single donation can help three or more patients."

     Mr Cheung stressed that the Government will continue to support the blood donation drive and assist the BTS in promoting blood donation.
 
     Led by Professor Chan, more than 50 staff of the Food and Health Bureau attended this morning's event.

     The Chairman of the Hospital Authority (HA), Professor John Leong, and the Chief Executive of the HA, Dr Leung Pak-yin, also attended the blood donation drive this morning. They expressed appreciation for the support of government employees in donating blood to help people in need.

     By using the mobile app "HK Blood", members of the public can easily look up their blood donation record, make a blood donation appointment, find the locations of Blood Donor Centres and Mobile Blood Collection Teams and receive the latest news about blood donation.

     A sustained and stable blood supply is only possible with the support of all sectors of the community. For details of the Blood Donor Centres, please visit the BTS' website www.ha.org.hk/rcbts or enquire at 2710 1234.