LKCMedicine donates blood for a good cause at inaugural drive
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In Singapore, about 400 units of blood are needed each day to save lives, from emergency blood transfusions to medical conditions, like leukemia. To tackle this growing need, LKCMedicine students, staff and faculty came together on 20 March at the inaugural LKCMedicine Blood Donation Drive. Organised by the LKCMedicine Students’ Medical Society (LKCMedSoc) Community Involvement Projects (CIP) Committee, and with the support of the Singapore Red Cross, the drive was attended by about 60 participants at the Multi-Purpose Hall in the Clinical Sciences Building.
From 12pm to 6pm, a steady stream of faculty, staff and students piled into the hall to take part in the drive. And for most of the participants, this drive marks their first-time donating blood.
First time donor and LKCMedicine Year 1 student Ho Wei En said, "In hospitals, patients would require blood every now and then. So, I thought I should help out when I can.”
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Convenience played a big part in driving donors to the event, as it was held within the School’s compound. LKCMedicine Assistant Manager in Curriculum Ms Goh Pei Ling said, “Since the blood donation drive is in LKCMedicine, it makes it convenient and easy for me to donate blood.”
Volunteers from the Health Sciences Authority (HSA) were present to conduct the blood tests and extraction, ensuring that participants are fit to donate and are comfortable throughout the hour-long process. Students from LKCMedSoc were also at the drive, encouraging their peers to take the first step in becoming a donor.
Hoping that the drive will create awareness about the urgency of blood donation, LKCMedSoc Welfare Director and current Year 4 student Kannan Ramanathan said, "As this is our first year organising the blood donation drive, we really want to create awareness first and hope to make this an annual event."
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