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More than 100 foreign workers come together to donate blood

SINGAPORE — Mr Muthiaiah Mohan, 23, had never donated blood before — not that he did not know how to, but the opportunity always eluded him.

Foreign workers at the blood donation drive organised by Gates PCM Construction yesterday. Photo: Jason Quah

Foreign workers at the blood donation drive organised by Gates PCM Construction yesterday. Photo: Jason Quah

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SINGAPORE — Mr Muthiaiah Mohan, 23, had never donated blood before — not that he did not know how to, but the opportunity always eluded him.

“Two or three years ago, a friend’s brother got into an accident. They were calling to give blood, but none of us was available,” said the Indian national, a general worker with rail construction firm Gates PCM Construction.

Yesterday morning, he finally got his chance when he, along with 100 of his colleagues, gave blood as part of the Gates Gives Life Blood Donation Drive.

Speaking to TODAY before it was his turn to donate, Mr Muthiaiah said he was “excited, but also a bit nervous”.

The event was part of the company’s annual corporate social responsibility project, which it said was also one of the largest of its kind involving mostly foreign workers.

The planning took three months and involved working with the Singapore Red Cross, said deputy project manager Johnvictor Charles, who is Gates PCM’s workplace safety and health officer.

Donors had to go through the standard questionnaires and screenings before being cleared to donate. The company also had its own screening procedure, based on criteria such as the employee’s travel history.

Speaking to TODAY, Mr Charles said one challenge was a lack of awareness among the foreign workers about donatinv blood.

“When we talk to (them), they tell me ... ‘You mean we can donate?’ When I asked why, they said, ‘Oh I thought (foreign workers) can’t donate blood,’” he said.

“(Some of them also have the) mentality that they’re losing blood. They didn’t think of it as donating blood, but rather, that they’re losing blood.”

So the company has stepped up outreach efforts: “We do briefings for them, go to their dormitories, talk to them and explain to them what the benefits of donating blood are.”

The message was not lost on the foreign workers TODAY spoke to, some of whom had given blood before.

Mr Ramalingam Vinoth, who had done it twice, advised his colleagues donating for the first time: “It’s just a small prick — don’t worry about the pain.”

The company hopes that its foreign workers will now pass the word to their peers. “We have to bring the necessary information to them, so that in future, they can come here on their own to donate blood,” said Mr Charles.

“It will help them to think beyond themselves ... (and about) living for the greater society.”

The Singapore Red Cross said companies can come on board to organise blood donation drives for their employees.

Its head of blood donation recruitment programme Robert Teo, who was at the event told TODAY: “We provide (private companies) with the information and resources necessary to promote blood donation, organise blood drives in their office and the community, and recruit blood donors.”

Response has been positive, he added, with many companies “(going) on to hold blood drives regularly, and employees say they feel a sense of pride and engagement when they organise blood drives with their colleagues”.

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