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The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:
Sunday (June 14) is "World Blood Donor Day" and many cities and towns will organise activities to recognise and appreciate blood donors for their selfless and generous donations.
The theme of this year's World Blood Donor Day is "Voluntary Non-remunerated Blood Donation". A spokesman of the Hong Kong Red Cross Blood Transfusion Service (BTS) said the BTS would organise the annual Donor Award Ceremony on this important day to publicly honour blood donors who had achieved 25-times donations or its multiples cumulatively during the past year.
The spokesman said there was a drop in blood donations, but hospital demand for blood, especially for type O, was particularly high. To ensure an adequate supply of blood and to realise the spirit of saving lives on "World Blood Donor Day", the BTS has appealed to the public - especially the type O blood donors - for immediate blood donations.
As a gesture of appreciation to blood donors, the BTS will present a limited edition and functional "Q-Blood Donation Measuring Tape" (see photo enclosed) to those who give blood between June 13 and 24, while stocks last. For details of the promotion, people can call the BTS hotline at 2710 1234 or visit the website http://www.ha.org.hk/rcbts
With the growing and ageing of the local population, the number of patients who need blood transfusions is increasing. The spokesman said the BTS sincerely invited more people to give blood regularly to brighten up patients' lives!
Ends/Wednesday, June 10, 2009
Issued at HKT 15:12
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