BEM UPH Contribute 500 Blood Bags for PMI Tangerang Through ?Blood Donation? Program

Blood Donors and Indonesian Red Cross (PMI) Officers 

UPH Student Executives Board (BEM) has successfully raised 500 blood bags, though a Community Service program called ?Blood Donation?, which was held on November 17, 21 and 22, 2016.  This event was held at two locations: 2^nd floor of UPH Medical Faculty and UPH Main Campus, D Building, 5^th floor, with more than 700 participants.

Unlike the previous ?Blood Donation? on March 2016, which was held in AEON Mall, this time the event was focused in UPH Campus. According to Calvin Adriel Sulistio (Industrial Engineering, 2015), as the Head of Committee, ?Blood donation? wanted to get back at its first goal, that is to increase the awareness of UPH students.

Calvin Adriel Sulistio

?This time, our main target is UPH internals, such as students and other members of the University. Through this event, we tried to raise the awareness towards the fact that Indonesia is still lacking in the availability of blood bags and also the benefits of being blood donors. Through publications and the host in charge during the event, we attempt to remind people about the benefits of blood donation for health and motivate them to participate. Blood donation is an easy and cheap way, and the most important thing to be a blood donor is to be healthy. This is the kind of awareness that we want to build in students? environment,? said Calvin.

The amount of participant for this first Blood Donation in 2016/2017 academic year has increased from the previous one in March 2016, which was followed by 574 participants. The amount of blood bags increase by 25%.

?Even so, a number of participants were still below our target, 900 people. Some factors such as bad weather and late publication have probably become the reasons for this situation. But during the event, participants seemed to be very enthusiastic. Participants varied from students to staffs, and a number of participants came from the public,? Calvin added.

For this event, UPH Students Executive Board collaborated with 3 branches of Indonesian Red Cross (PMI): PMI Cilegon on the first day, PMI Serang and Pandegelang on the second day; and PMI Serang dan Cilegon on the third day. There was a total of 44 beds which was provided for the blood donation, 10 on the first day, 16 on the second and 17 on the last day.

The theme for this ?Blood Donation? is ?Gift of Live, Give for Life? which means that blood is a symbol of life which God has given to us and through this event, we want to encourage students, staffs, and the public to ?give life? to people who needs it.

In near future, Calvin stated that Student Executive Board has planned to conduct the second ?Blood Donation? events in 2017. (mt)

Before Donating and to become Blood Donors, participants have to do Health Check, which includes Blood Pressure, Heartbeat, Weight, etc.