JUSUF KALLA: RI STILL LACKING IN BLOOD SUPPLY

Jakarta Forum - Jambi, General Chairman of the Indonesian Red Cross (PMI) H Muhamad Jusuf Kalla said Indonesia is currently still lacking fresh blood supply for donation.

In 2009, PMI only had 0.7 pct of the blood supply of 230 million Indonesians, or 1.7 million packs of blood, while the normal blood supply should be 3 percent of the total population, Jusuf Kalla said when visiting the PMI Jambi office on Friday.

The lack of blood supply was one of the reasons of the death of mothers from bleeding. The deaths not only reached hundreds, but even thousands each year, she said.

"This is a homework of PMI. People on the operating table also need blood transfusion," JK told hundreeds of Jambi PMI members.

JK said PMI in 2010 projected to have a supply of three million blood packs, which must increase to four millions in the next two years. This is one of the main targets of PMI.

PMI needs to be active in seeking donors by launching effective campaigns, and not only ceremonial donors, but donors truly dedicated to humanity.

"We have to change blood donation to a life style. Therefore one effective way would not be coming to PMI, but PMI coming to the prospective donors," he said.

Not only that, it would also be necessary to set up blood donation stalls in public places, like in shopping centers, universities and religious institutions on a permanent basis.

JK also underlined the self-reliance principle of PMI in carrying out its tasks by minimizing its assistance from the national PMI headquarters and from other countries.

Source: Antara News