On March 11th (Saturday), the Rotary International District 3450 held a blood donation day at the Tsang Pik Shan (Sung Lan) Secondary School in Ma On Shan, Hong Kong. Dr. Hon. David Tzit Yuen LAM, Legislative Councilor and Ms. Lidan DING from the Liaison Office of The Central People’s Government in the Hong Kong S.A.R. were invited to be our officiating guests of the ceremony.
“One blood donation saves three lives.” The Rotary International District 3450 and its affiliated Rotary clubs have responded to the call by the Hong Kong Red Cross for blood donation for many years by organizing all kinds of blood donation activities. The annual district blood donation day has mobilized a large amount of manpower and resources, hoping to promote the message of blood donation.
In his speech, Dr. LAM pointed out that in the past three years, the number of blood donors has decreased due to the COVID-19 pandemic. He urged citizens to encourage people around us to donate blood in response to the public’s need for blood transfusions to save lives. The Hong Kong Red Cross provides high-quality blood donation and blood preservation services, and the public can rest assured to donate blood to help others. Dr. LAM also praised the Rotary club members for their years of service to the community and expressed his highest respect for them.
After the COVID-19 pandemic, it was expected that more people would come out to donate blood, but now the West Nile virus (WNV) has emerged, which may prevent people who have been to affected North American or European countries from donating blood. Dr. Norman LEE, the District Governor of the Rotary International District 3450, said that donating blood to save lives will not harm the donor’s body. Helping others by donating blood can actually bring happiness. With the thorough explanation by the Hong Kong Red Cross, donors’ doubts and worries would be alleviated during the blood donation process.
Past District Governor Keith CHOW, Chairman of the Rotary International District 3450 Health Committee, thanked the Rotary club members for their assistance in organizing the blood donation events, and hoped that everyone would continue to support blood donation promotion work continuously. Mr. German HUI, the Past President of Rotary Club of Lan Kwai Fong, who was the chairman of the blood donation day organizing committee, mentioned that due to a congenital disease he had to receive blood transfusions immediately after birth. Hence, he understood the importance of blood donation to save lives. Therefore, he fully agreed with the determination of the Rotary District and its affiliated Rotary clubs to call for blood donation.
According to data from the Hong Kong Red Cross Blood Transfusion Service Center, during the blood processing process, different components of the blood will be separated. Therefore, donating one bag of whole blood (including red blood cells, white blood cells, platelets, plasma, and clotting factors) can treat three or more patients.
The Rotary International District 3450 covers Hong Kong, Macao, and Mongolia, and has 107 Rotary clubs with more than 2,700 Rotary club members. Every year, they organize various health-related activities, including group blood donation, as well as services and promotion activities related to cardiopulmonary resuscitation, dementia, organ donation, disease prevention, and promoting vaccine injection. They contribute their strength to the treatment and prevention of diseases in various regions and live up to the Rotary motto, “Service Above Self”.
國際扶輪3450 地區捐血日推動社區捐血助人
國際扶輪3450地區於三月十一日(星期六)在馬鞍山曾璧山(崇蘭)中學舉行國際扶輪 3450 地區捐血日，立法會議員(醫療衞生界)林哲玄醫生及中聯辦協調部主任科員丁俐丹女士親臨活動作主禮嘉賓。
“捐一次血，救三個人”，國際扶輪3450地區及旗下扶輪社多年來響應香港紅十字會的捐血呼籲，舉辦大大小小的捐血活動，每年的地區捐血日更是動用了大量人力物力，希望向大廣推廣捐血救人的訊息。
林哲玄議員在台上致辭指出，過去三年新冠疫情使捐血人數減少，需要市民協助呼籲身邊的人士捐血，以回應大眾對輸血救人的需要；香港紅十字會提供了高水平的捐血及血液保存服務，市民大眾可放心去進行捐血，救助他人。林議員亦表揚扶輪社員多年來身體力行，服務社會，他對扶輪社致上崇高的敬意。
在新冠疫情過後，以為可以有更多人去出來捐血，但現時又出現了西尼羅河病毒(WNV)，可能使曾到該等受疫情影響的北美或歐洲國家的人士未能順利地參與捐血。國際扶輪3450地區總監李德利博士表示捐血救人不會對捐血者的身體做成傷害，用身體上的資源去救助他人，反倒可以從中取得愉快；另外香港紅十字會對捐血者的耐心解說，亦可舒緩捐血者在捐血過程中的疑慮及擔憂。
國際扶輪3450地區健康委員會主席周基業前總監則多謝扶輪社員協助籌辦捐血活動，提升大眾對捐血救人的意義，希望大家繼續支持日後的捐血推廣工作。蘭桂坊扶輪社前社長許智明為是次捐血日籌委會主委，他提及因先天性疾病，一出生便要馬上接受輸血，故很明白捐血救人的重要性，故此，他十分認同扶輪地區及其所屬的扶輪社一直持守在呼籲捐血工作上的決心。
據紅十字會輸血服務中心資料，血液處理過程中會分開血液中不同的成份，故每次捐贈一包全血（即包含紅血球、白血球、血小板、血漿及凝血因子等全部成分的血液）就可救治三個或以上病人。
國際扶輪3450地區覆蓋香港、澳門及蒙古國等地，共有107個扶輪社，超過2,700名扶輪社員，每年均籌辦方方面面與衛生健康相關的活動，除了團體捐血，亦有涉及心肺復甦、腦退化症、器官捐贈、防疫及疫苗注射等服務及推廣活動，為各地區的治療及疾病預防盡其一份力量，實踐「超我服務」的扶輪精神。
