“Blood4Nation” Campaign Saves Lives in Indonesia Through Blood Donation

January 30, 2012

“Blood4Nation” Campaign Saves Lives in Indonesia Through Blood Donation

On January 28, U.S. Ambassador Scot Marciel, Indonesian Red Cross Chairman and former Vice President Jusuf Kalla, and Valencia Mieke Randa from Blood for Life launched the “Blood4Nation” campaign at high-tech cultural center @america.  The campaign, which coincides with National Blood Donor Month in America and @america’s one-year anniversary celebrations, includes four days of blood drives: January 28 & 29 and February 4 & 5.
 
The Blood4Nation campaign aims to raise awareness about the importance of donating blood and move Indonesia closer to meeting its blood supply needs.  All blood collected through the blood drives goes directly to the Indonesian Red Cross (PMI).  According to the World Health Organization, Indonesia has fewer donations per capita than other Asian nations like Japan and Malaysia, but the number of donors continues to increase each year.  Under Bapak Jusuf Kalla’s leadership, PMI continues to find ways to make donating blood easier and more accessible.
 
During remarks at the launch event, Ambassador Marciel talked about the importance of making blood donations as easy as possible to encourage higher donor turnout.  He also praised the work of Blood for Life’s online outreach, explaining, “I think it’s a great example of how Indonesians are contributing to their country and community, doing really good things.  It’s wonderful.”  Chairman Kalla stressed the need to make donating blood a way of life, especially for younger Indonesians.  He explained, “We need younger donors.  Why younger?  The first reason is because youth tend to be healthier, and also because they can be donors for a longer period of time.”   There also was a special video from Dr. Richard Benjamin, Chief Medical Officer from the American Red Cross, encouraging Indonesians to give blood.
 
Online movement Blood for Life helps raise public awareness about the importance of donating blood and pairs those in need of blood with willing donors.  Valencia Mieke Randa, the group’s founder, explained, “People would like to help donate blood, but they often do not know who needs blood donations.  Blood for Life is there to bridge those who need blood and those who wish to donate.”  Blood for Life does most of its work through online tools such as Twitter, Facebook, and blogs, demonstrating how online tools can facilitate offline change.  They also are working on an online application that will allow people to submit blood requests via hand phone.      
 
Blood4Nation continues February 4 &5 at @america.  Interested donors should come out and donate blood.  One donation can save three lives.

Related News Coverage

1. Kalla Invites Youth to Become Blood Donors, antaranews.com, 1/28
2. PMI to Attract More Youths to Donate Blood, thejakartapost.com, 1/28
3. U.S. Embassy and the Red Cross Campaign Blood4Nation, tribunnews.com, 1/28
4. Blood4Nation Helps Blood Donor Movement, seputar-indonesia.com, 1/29
5. Jusuf Kalla to Make Donating Blood A Lifestyle, vivanews.com, 1/28
6. U.S. Embassy and Indonesian Red Cross direct Blood Donating as become Lifestyle, pikiran-rakyat.com, 1/29
7. US Embassy And Indonesian Red Cross Campaigns Blood Donating Lifestyle, voanews.com, 1/28