Kota Kinabalu: A parent of a long-term patient at the Paediatric Haematology Department of Likas Women and Children’s Hospital called on the public to support blood donation drives, while donating a storage locker to the hospital as a gesture of gratitude.
Loi Kok Liang cited the rising number of cases in Sabah, driven by the high prevalence of childhood thalassemia and other blood-related conditions.
“Contributing factors include limited health education in rural areas and underdeveloped medical infrastructure in the State’s interior regions,” Loi said.
Recognising the dedication of the hospital staff, Loi took the initiative to provide a storage locker for their use.
“My own child has been receiving long-term treatment and monitoring at this department, so I deeply understand the hard work and dedication of the medical staff here.
Knowing that they needed storage lockers, I decided to donate one as a gesture of gratitude,” he said.
Loi also stressed the critical need for blood donations to address ongoing shortages at Sabah’s blood bank, which is vital for patients in the Pediatric Hematology Department.
“A single blood donation can save multiple lives, and the demand is growing,” he said, urging communities to step forward and contribute.
The department continues to face significant challenges, underscoring the urgent need for improved health education and better infrastructure in Sabah to tackle the root causes of the state’s rising blood disorder cases.
