Asyraf bin Junaidi was grateful to be able to donate blood again, having done so for the first time during his student years.
“I have always wanted to donate whenever I heard of a blood donation campaign but it always ended up with wrong timing of either I was busy with work or I was unwell due to fever or exhaustion.”
He did so for the second time during a blood donation drive organised by GHK Motors Sdn Bhd as part of the company’s corporate social responsibility programme.
He passed the health screening and was able to donate to help replenish stocks at the blood bank and help save lives.
GHK Motors, where Asyraf is an employee, has organised many blood donations over the years.
The company hopes the initiative can help the blood bank replenish its supply that often runs low due to a high demand of blood transfusions in the country.
Another employee, Ellisua bin Liyus had donated four times in various campaigns.
Despite being unable to donate for the past two or three years due to the pandemic, Ellisua shared that he did not feel uneasy, but was instead excited to roll-up his sleeves and donated a pint of blood.
He said the main reason for him to donate blood was the knowledge that a donation could save up to three lives.
Meanwhile, account assistant Noor Samiah binti Haji Joly, started donating blood five years ago during one of the company’s campaigns.
She said there wasn’t a particular reason for her to start donating, and she is happy she was fit and able to contribute.
Fifty-year-old Haji Hanapiah bin Haji Mustapha, who has been with the company for the past 15-years, encouraged more people to donate. “It does not matter how old you are as long as you pass the health screening process,” he said.
“If you feel that it is okay for you to do it then why not? Hence I have no concern of how old I am and when my mind is set to donate I just proceed without second thoughts.
“In fact everytime after donating blood I feel refreshed,” he said.
He is one of the more active donors among the company’s employees, and makes it a point to prepare himself whenever there is an announcement for an upcoming blood donation drive in the company.
“Let us all do our part in giving back to the society. If we can’t help in the form of monetary or in any other kind, donating blood is one way to help the community. Donating blood is a voluntary act by responsible and selfless people who want to help save lives,” said Marketing Executive Ahmad Faezul Imtiaz bin Haji Adam.
Yesterday’s blood donation drive collected 45 pints from both employees and the public. – Lyna Mohamad
