Hundreds donate blood in Cambodia to mark World Blood Donor Day

Xinhua | 12 June 2013

PHNOM PENH, June 12 (Xinhua) -- Hundreds of Cambodian citizens and dozens of foreigners working in Cambodia lined up to donate their blood on Wednesday during the celebrations of the 10th World Blood Donor Day.

Speaking at the event, Cambodian Minister of Heath Mam Bunheng expressed gratitude to all blood donors, saying that their donation was very valuable to save lives of the patients.

"I urge all of you to continue your donation," he said. " Blood transfusion will not harm your health; instead, your blood will save lives of people who are in need of blood."

Hok Kim Cheng, director of National Blood Transfusion Center, said the celebrations were to appeal to donors to donate blood in order to ensure the stability of supplying blood to hospitals and health centers throughout the nation.

He said last year, the center had received voluntary donations of 60,084 units of blood, up 28 percent from 46,690 units in a year earlier.

"More and more Cambodians are aware of the advantage of blood in saving lives," he said. "About 4.2 out of 1,000 people donate their blood last year, up from 4 out of 1,000 people in a year earlier."

He said all blood would be tested for four types of diseases, HIV, hepatitis B and C, syphilis, and malaria.

"The blood that contains any of these diseases will be destroyed," he said.

Dr. Pieter Van Maaren, representative of the World Health Organization to Cambodia, said a unit of blood could save up to three lives in low income countries including Cambodia.

"The event is very important to encourage people to donate blood and to thank donors for their blood donation," he said.

One of the blood donors is a Buddhist monk who has donated blood to the center for 31 times.

"I have donated blood in every three months, there is no any harm to my health," said Svay Sophea, a Buddhist monk at Botum Vatey pagoda in Phnom Penh. "This is the way I can do to save lives of people who are in need in blood."