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THURSDAY, JUNE 15, 1978

BLOOD DONATIONS HAVE TO BE DOUBLED BY 1982

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DR. THONG

DONATIONS OF BLOOD FOR HOSPITAL USE WILL HAVE TO BE DOUBLED BY 1982 TO MEET THE INCREASING NEED WITH THE GRADUAL EXPANSION OF HOSPITAL FACILITIES IN THE NEXT FEW YEARS.

DR. K.L. THONG, DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES, STATED THIS TODAY AT THE ANNUAL DONOR AWARD PRESENTATION ORGANISED BY THE BLOOD TRANSFUSION SERVICE OF THE HONG KONG RED CROSS.

HE SAID IT WAS ENCOURAGING TO NOTE THAT 74,000 DONATIONS OF BLOOD WERE GIVEN TO RED CROSS FOR USE BY 18 GOVERNMENT AND PRIVATE HOSPITALS DURING THE YEAR 1977/78.

AS MORE HOSPITALS WERE BEING BUILT, HE SAID, ONE MUST EXPECT A GREAT STRAIN ON FUTURE RESOURCES.

DR. THONG SAID THAT IN ORDER TO COPE WITH THE NEED A NEW BLOOD TRANSFUSION SERVICE CENTRE WOULD BE BUILT NEAR QUEEN ELIZABETH HOSPITAL PROVIDING ALL THE NECESSARY FACILITIES FOR RECEIVING, TESTING AND PROCESSING OF BLOOD.

+ IT FOLLOWS THAT MORE AND MORE DONORS WILL BE NEEDED AND BY 1982 WE SHALL BE LOOKING FOR SOME 140,000 DONATIONS A YEAR,+ HE SAID.

DR. THONG STRESSED THAT THE SUCCESS IN BUILDING WHAT WILL BECOME A FULL SCALE BLOOD TRANSFUSION SERVICE WOULD DEPEND VERY MUCH ON THE GOODWILL OF ALL BLOOD DONORS.

+NO AMOUNT OF PLANNING DONE BY DOCTORS AND ADMINISTRATORS WILL PRODUCE A BLOOD TRANSFUSION SERVICE WITHOUT THE DONORS AND WHAT'S MORE IMPORTANT IS THE REGULAR DONORS, + HE SAID,

+THIS IS THE ESSENTIAL FACTOR WHICH HOLDS TOGETHER A GOOD BLOOD DONATION PROGRAMME, HE ADDED.

DR. THONG SAID ALTHOUGH BLOOD DONORS RECEIVED NO FINANCIAL REWARD THERE WAS THE SATISFACTION OF KNOWING THAT BY GIVING SOME BLOOD +YOU HAVE SHOWN THE DEEPEST POSSIBLE CONCERN FOR THE WELFARE OF YOUR FELLOW MAN,+

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