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The "Hospital Authority Staff Blood Donation Campaign" launch ceremony organised by Blood Transfusion Service was held today (February 13). The campaign is organised with the view of healthcare personnel taking the lead to give blood. It is hoped that more people will be motivated to give blood during the period from February 13 to 25 to ensure an adequate supply of blood during the Chinese New Year holiday period.
The officiating guests included Secretary for Health, Welfare and Food Dr York Chow, Chairman of the Hospital Authority Mr Anthony Wu, Chief Executive of the Hospital Authority Mr Shane Solomon and Chairman of Hong Kong Red Cross Blood Transfusion Service Governing Committee Mr Vincent Lo.
Dr Chow said that Hong Kong required 700 to 800 people to donate blood every day for the treatment of patients who were injured in traffic accidents, whose injuries required an operation, or those who suffered chronic illnesses such as thalassaemia.
However, even with the latest technology, blood products have very limited shelf-life. For instances, red blood cell concentrates can be kept for 42 days while it is only five days for platelet concentrates. To ensure supply of in-dated products for patient therapy, the Blood Transfusion Service needs to collect blood during extended holiday periods. In past years, despite enhanced publicity and more frequent reminders to donors, blood supplies during extended holidays was still tight as a consequence of inadequate blood donations.
Dr Chow urged people to give blood during the festive times of Valentine's Day and Chinese New Year to ensure a supply of in-dated products for patient therapy. He hoped that by mobilising healthcare workers to take the lead to donate blood, more people would be motivated to give blood.
To support the campaign, Dr Chow and Mr Solomon led some 30 Hospital Authority staff members to donate blood at the ceremony.
As a gesture of appreciation to blood donors, the Blood Transfusion Service has designed a "Wealthy Bag and Key Chain" for those who will give blood during the Valentine's Day period (February 7 to 17), and a "Prosperous Crystal" for those donating during the Chinese New Year period (February 19 to 25). In addition, the God of Fortune will visit designated donor centres on the third day of the Chinese New Year to bring good luck to donors.
For more details plus service dates and hours of blood donor centres during the Chinese New Year holiday, people can call the service's enquiry hotline at 2710 1234 or visit the website at http://www.ha.org.hk/rcbts
Ends/Tuesday, February 13, 2007
Issued at HKT 17:55
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