Organised in collaboration with Singapore Red Cross Society, HMAP participated in its first-ever blood donation drive which drew active participation from 17 staff volunteers.

The initiative is to help Singapore Red Cross Society grow the number of blood donations and donors to meet the increasing medical needs of a growing and greying population which has increased sharply over the last five years. An ageing population is more likely to develop age-related diseases such as heart disease and stroke which mean more demand for blood to support more medical and surgical procedures. Blood donor pool may also shrink as the donors themselves get older and unable to give blood. Blood is also needed to save lives in times of emergencies and to sustain the lives of those with medical conditions such as leukaemia, thalassaemia and other blood disorders.

On 13 June 2017, 17 HMAP CSR members and volunteers arrived at the Bloodbank@Westgate Tower where they get ready to register for the blood donation drive. They underwent a series of stringent medical screening and tests to determine their suitability to give blood. 6 volunteers were found suitable to donate blood. The donors were then led to the Donation Room where they start the blood donation process. A local painkiller was first administered on their arm before an approximately 450ml of blood was collected from each donor. It was a quick and painless process. We learnt that one single donation can help to save up to three lives! Kudos to 6 of our successful donors who bravely overcame their fear of needles in order to save three lives each!

The experience was a positive and encouraging one. The participants felt good knowing that they were contributing to a worthy life-saving cause. By bringing employees together, we hope that more will come forward to donate blood to save more lives.