By Nancy Nais
KUCHING, Dec 11: Blood donation is an essential part of the Fire and Rescue Department (Bomba) Malaysia’s community engagement programme.
“Apart from operational and rescuing people or assets in dangerous situations, we also create other programmes and one of them is blood donation drive to help those who urgently need blood for surgery. This is a small contribution by Bomba to create awareness among the general public that everyone is actually capable of making contributions in many ways,” said state Bomba director Khirudin Drahman.
He added that can also help hospitals to ensure that their blood banks have sufficient supplies, particularly during festive seasons.
The department plans to organise blood drives twice a year.
Speaking at the department’s blood donation drive event today, Khirudin said they also want to make sure their personnel including the Bomba community participate in this noble cause.
He also opined that such programmes can help to monitor their personnel’s health.
A total of 37 personnel successfully donated blood in today’s event which was held at Bomba headquarters in Tabuan Jaya.
One of the donors, Petra Jaya fire station officer-in-charge Tan Min Chai said this is one of the ways for him to give back to the community.
Tan, who has donated 12 times so far felt that it is part of his responsibilities to give blood to save other lives and when it is needed most.
“Donating blood is an easy way to help others. It is cheap and time-saving, but very meaningful because as Bomba personnel, not only do we fight fire, we also indirectly save lives by donating blood,” Tan said. — DayakDaily
