In commemorating World Blood Donor Day, the Department of Fisheries at the Faculty of Agriculture, Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), conducted a blood donation drive on Wednesday, June 14, 2023.
At the Fisheries Building, Faculty of Agriculture, the activity was a collaboration between the Department of Fisheries, Dharma Wanita, and the Blood Transfusion Service Unit (UPTD) of Dr. Sardjito General Hospital.
The event involved active participation from students, lecturers, staff, the extended family of the Department of Fisheries, and the local community around the campus. Through this initiative, they managed to collect 46 blood bags.
Dr. Senny Helmiati, the social service coordinator for the 60th Anniversary of the Department of Fisheries, stated that the blood donation drive aimed to welcome the 60th-anniversary celebration of the department and to commemorate World Blood Donor Day.
Through this activity, they hoped to increase the supply of blood bags for needy patients, especially those receiving treatment at Dr. Sardjito General Hospital in Yogyakarta.
The Ministry of Health and the Indonesian Red Cross (PMI) reported that the blood stock in Indonesia as of June 2021 reached 3.14 million blood bags. Although the number has increased over the past ten years, more is needed to meet the minimum national blood demand.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has set the standard for blood demand at 2% of a country’s population. This means that 5.5 million blood bags are needed annually in Indonesia, indicating a high need for blood supply in the country.
“Through this blood donation drive, we invite students, lecturers, staff, and the extended family of the Department of Fisheries to actively support the government’s efforts to increase the national blood supply to help save more lives,” she explained in a press release received on Thursday, June 15.
This blood donation drive not only provides benefits to those in need but also demonstrates the care and actual contribution of the extended family of the Department of Fisheries to the community.
Author: Ika
Photo: Department of Fisheries