The Secretary for Health, Professor Lo Chung-mau, and the Under Secretary for Health, Dr Libby Lee, donated blood today (August 14) on the mobile blood donation vehicle of the Hong Kong Red Cross Blood Transfusion Service (BTS) parked at the Central Government Offices (CGO) to personally participate in the support of blood donation drives and efforts of the BTS. They also appealed to members of the public, including government personnel, to donate blood actively to join hands in helping those in need.
 
     The mobile blood donation vehicle is parked at the CGO from today until August 16 (Wednesday) to offer convenience to government personnel for blood donation.
 
     Professor Lo said, "The entire blood donation process was very quick and simply felt like getting a mosquito bite without any discomfort. There is no substitute for blood which has a limited shelf life. The BTS needs to collect 650 units of blood daily to provide sufficient blood for clinical transfusions for patients in need of timely rescue in all hospitals across the city. A stable and sufficient blood supply of the blood inventories rests upon the voluntary and selfless donation of blood by dedicated citizens. A single unit of whole blood donated each time can save at least three or more patients."
 
     Professor Lo added, "Different government departments and disciplined services have already organised multiple blood donation drives for government personnel in recent months. We call on more members of the public to join in donating blood and saving lives by becoming regular blood donors. We also encourage enterprises and community groups to host more blood donation drives and shoulder the mission of donating blood to save lives. I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to all devoted citizens who support blood donation drives. I hope that such spirit of mutual assistance and love can continue to spread across the community. The Government will remain committed to fully supporting blood donation drives."
 
     Other than setting up multiple blood donation centres across various districts in Hong Kong, the BTS also dispatches mobile blood donation teams and mobile blood donation vehicles to visit different organisations and communities every day to facilitate blood donation by members of the public. Members of the public can make appointments for blood donation by calling a donor centre or via the "HK Blood" mobile application. For details, please visit www.ha.org.hk/rcbts.

Ends/Monday, August 14, 2023
Issued at HKT 16:48

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