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The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:
The Hong Kong Red Cross Blood Transfusion Service (BTS) held its annual Donor Award Ceremony today (June 2) at the Kowloonbay International Trade & Exhibition Centre to recognise 1 720 blood donors who donated blood 25 times in the past year.
In addressing the audience at the ceremony, the officiating guest, the Chair Professor and Head, Department of Surgery, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, the University of Hong Kong, Professor Lo Chung-mau, pointed out that there is no substitute for blood which is critical for clinical treatment. Therefore, blood donors are extremely important to both patients and health-care workers.
"Although Hong Kong's blood supply had achieved self-sufficiency, and the quality and safety standards are among the highest internationally, Hong Kong must not be complacent in facing the challenges of the increasing blood demand," Professor Lo said.
Last year, there were over 170 000 donors, who gave a total of 244 594 units of blood - a 4.4 per cent increase year-on-year. The blood collected was processed into 616 293 units of products which were supplied to hospitals. The territory-wide blood utilisation has increased 17 per cent during the past five years. It is projected that demand will increase by another 3.4 per cent this year. Despite increases in blood collection and the number of donors, both the collection and the number of first-time donors recruited at mobile blood drives showed significant drops of 14.6 per cent and 6.7 per cent respectively.
To meet all local blood demand, Professor Lo appealed to all the award recipients at the Ceremony to encourage their friends and families, notably the younger generations, to give blood regularly.
At today's Ceremony, the Chairman of the Blood Transfusion Service Governing Committee, Mr Philip Tsai, also said that all the blood donors receiving awards are indeed the pride of Hong Kong. Given the fast pace of life, it is a truly commendable act when those who donate blood voluntarily help unrelated patients or injured individuals.
Ms Nicole Lui, a pregnant mother who suffered severe post-partum blood loss and had received urgent blood transfusion, and her attending obstetrician, Dr Leung Wing-cheong, who is the Chief of Service of the Obstetrics and Gynaecology Department at Kwong Wah Hospital, also attended the Ceremony to give an account of blood transfusion treatment, bringing out the important message that blood donation changes lives. Other officiating guests at today's ceremony included the Director of the Hong Kong Red Cross, Mr Luke Wong, and the Secretary General of the Hong Kong Red Cross, Mr Chan Kai-ming.
A second ceremony will be held on next Sunday (June 9) to recognise blood donors who have donated 50 times (multiples of 25) in the past year and outstanding mobile drive organisers including schools and organisations.
To celebrate World Blood Donor Day 2013, the following celebratory and promotional programmes, which invite the participation of all, will be rolled out:
* June 1 to 9: Message Card Campaign (at donor centres and mobile collection venues)
* June 1 to 14: "Give Your Best Shot" Programme (at donor centres)
* June 10 to 18: "Gift of Life" Blood Donation Week (at donor centres and mobile collection venues)
For further details, please visit the World Blood Donor Day Facebook page (www.facebook.com/worldblooddonorday2013) or call the BTS hotline at 2710 1234.
Ends/Sunday, June 2, 2013
Issued at HKT 14:47
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