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The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:
The Hong Kong Red Cross Blood Transfusion Service (BTS) today (June 14), World Blood Donor Day (WBDD), organised a "New Blood for the World" activity at the Avenue of Stars, Tsim Sha Tsui, to encourage young people to donate blood. After a ceremony, more than 100 youths from various groups in the community proceeded to blood donor centres to give blood.
On World Blood Donor Day, countries all over the world organise activities to show their appreciation to voluntary non-remunerated blood donors. The theme of the WBDD this year is "New Blood for the World" to encourage youngsters to give blood. At the event today, over 100 youths, including university students, secondary school students, nursing students, the Hong Kong Red Cross, the Hong Kong Girl Guides Association and Scout Association of Hong Kong, gathered and pledged to donate blood.
The officiating guests at the activity included Chairman of the Hospital Authority, Mr Anthony Wu; blood donation ambassador Ms Kay Tse; celebrity youth athletes Mr Marco Fu and Mr Michael Lo; Deputy Chairman of the Hong Kong Red Cross, Mr Vincent Lo; Cluster Chief Executive of Kowloon Central Cluster, Hospital Authority, Dr C T Hung; and Chairman of the Blood Transfusion Service Governing Committee, Mr Philip Tsai.
In his speech, Mr Anthony Wu said that every day many patients needed blood because of illness, accident or surgery. It would not be possible to save all of them if there was no blood for treatments. Mr Wu paid the highest tribute to all voluntary non-remunerated blood donors.
He also said that the growth and ageing of the local population would lead to an increasing demand for blood. In the past year, blood demand increased by 2.6% compared with 2008. The blood utilisation has increased by around 10% during this year's first quarter compared with that of last year.
The blood supply cannot be sustained in future if there will be no more blood donations from the public, particularly the youth. At present, about half of the blood donors in Hong Kong are aged between 16 and 30, however, the number of youngsters giving blood in the recent years drops. He stressed the importance of youth participation if blood sufficiency is to be maintained.
Ms Kay Tse, the BTS' blood donation ambassador, and athletes Mr Marco Fu and Mr Michael Lo also urged youngsters to donate blood. Mr Wu and the officiating guests led the youth teams to pledge to give blood.
To celebrate the WBDD, as a gesture of gratitude to blood donors, a "mini blood donation calendar calculator" will be presented to those who give blood from today until June 28. For details of the above, the public can call the BTS hotline at 2710 1234 or visit the website at www.ha.org.hk/rcbts .
Ends/Monday, June 14, 2010
Issued at HKT 18:45
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