KENINGAU: Since the enforcement of the Covid-19 Pandemic Movement Control Order (MCO) on March 18 and followed the Conditional Movement Control Order (CMCO) has led many hospitals in the state including this district to be in shortage of blood.
This is due to the inability of the public to move freely to the hospital to donate blood as they are required to stay at home to break the Covid-19 transmission chain.
At the same time, blood donation campaign activities by non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and voluntary bodies also could not be held due to compliance with the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) provided by the government.
In this regard, Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Economy) Arthur Joseph Kurup called on the people here to donate blood following the current implementation of the Restoration Movement Control Order (RMCO).
“I urge the public to take the initiative during the RMCO to attend district donation centres or blood donation programmes organised by hospitals and NGOs to donate blood to help save the lives of the needy,” he said during the Blood Donation Campaign here on Saturday.
Arthur said the phobia’s perception of blood donation practised needs to be eradicated in society, and such activities (blood donation) should be a healthy culture and practise. He said the Keningau hospital’s blood fund needs strong support from the whole community in the district.
“I have always given my full support to the blood donation campaigns in my constituency and other places as well, and I always welcome such programmes,” he said.
At the same time, Arthur also advised blood donors and campaign organisers to implement and adopt the new norms proposed by the government in preventing the spread of Covid-19.
He said even after entering the RMCO stage, programme organisers including the people had to abide by the SOP especially social distancing, wearing masks, always washing their hands with soap or using hand sanitiser, limiting movement when it was not necessary, not visiting crowded places and no shaking hands.
In conjunction with this year’s World Blood Donation Day, he also thanked blood donors as they are heroes who have saved lives and given hope to other people.
The campaign was held by the Kampung Panagatan Ulu’s Neighbourhood Watch Committees (KRT) and Village Community Management Council (MPKK) in collaboration with the Keningau Hospital Transfusion Unit and People’s Volunteers Corps (Rela).
At the campaign, a total of 19 pints of blood were successfully collected from the public. Also present at the programme were Head of Keningau Hospital Blood Transfusion Unit, Dr Nurul Farhana, District National Anti-Drug Agency (AADK) Officer, Azry Azmi Golbin, District Youth and Sports Ministry Officer, Madle Mason, Panagatan Ulu MPKK Chairman, Haimin Jafry and Panagatan Ulu KRT Chairman, Ramian Ayub.
