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While campaign raises awareness, do more to help youth donate blood

I am heartened to see many institutions actively participating in the #MissingTypeSG campaign (“#MissingTypeSG campaign launched to highlight need for more blood donors”; Aug 16 and “Beneficiaries urge more to donate blood”; Aug 17).

I am heartened to see many institutions actively participating in the #MissingTypeSG campaign (“#MissingTypeSG campaign launched to highlight need for more blood donors”; Aug 16 and “Beneficiaries urge more to donate blood”; Aug 17).

Such active support shown has indeed shown Singapore’s unity in championing the cause for more blood donations.

The demand for blood has been on the rise but the supply of blood may not be able to keep up.

The #MissingTypeSG campaign has been successful so far, educating many about the importance of blood donation. Over social media, we see many youths joining the cause, removing the letters A, B and O from their Instagram usernames.

What is needed now is for such awareness to be translated into action.

According to The Health Sciences Authority’s (HSA) summary of blood donation figures last year, 28 per cent of the donors are youths.

Even though this figure may not come across as especially significant, I believe that the youth have much potential in playing a part in this cause. Youths above the age of 16 and above 45kg can be further mobilised to put their ideals into action.

This can be accomplished through taking more blood donation drives to schools, making it more convenient for youths of suitable ages to donate blood. Through participating in blood donations, civic responsibility can be inculcated in these youngsters.

This will also encourage youths to donate blood on a regular basis, hence resolving the issue of insufficient blood supplies in the long run.

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