The Students Executive Board of Universitas Pelita Harapan (BEM UPH) had managed to collect a total of 573 blood bags to be donated to the Indonesian Red Cross (PMI) in Tangerang, through a blood donation event which was held on November 5-7, 2019, at the UPH Campus in Lippo Village. This event has become a regular event for BEM UPH and has always been held twice every year. This year, the event has been held for the 16th time.

?In order to accommodate even more donors, there would be 2 shifts: from 10.00-13.00 and 13.00-17.00. This year, there are a total of 964 donors who participated in this event,? said Blessy Easter ? Head Committee of the 16th Blood Donation, student of UPH International Relation, batch 2018.

For the blood donation itself, BEM UPH collaborates with the Indonesian Red Cross branch in Tangerang in order to provide 16 beds and facilitators for regular procedures such as weight, blood pressure, and HB level checking of the donors. All these procedures are very important in order to know whether donors are in good health and ready for the blood donation or not.

According to Anwar Fathony, the person in charge for PMI Tangerang, Indonesia is in a desperate need for blood bags. Because, the blood bags that are available in the blood bank of the Indonesian Red Cross right now, can only fulfill about 60% of all the blood demand.

?Through this event in UPH, we aim for a minimum of 250 blood bags,? said Anwar.

Turns out, the 16th Blood Donation had managed to assemble much more in comparison to the previous expectations with a total of 573 blood bags. This result was also supported by the high awareness of the community in UPH; the lecturers, staffs, and students, about the importance of donating blood.

Aside from blood donation, participants were able to do medical check-up which was handled directly by the students of UPH Faculty of Medicine and Faculty of Nursing. The medical check-up provided includes, Body Mass Index (BMI) checking and body fat percentage calculation, as well as other check-ups.

Some other extra services were also given by BEM UPH and it has attracted some donors to donate regularly.
?I have become a donor for four times in UPH. Aside from being good for the body, I can also avoid illness by donating my blood. I also believe that this kind of event is really useful for the public, especially in encouraging people to live a healthy life,? said Ariyanto ? a student of UPH Faculty of Nursing, batch 2014.

Another positive reaction was also given by a new donor like Aldo Arvian ? a student of UPH College, batch 2019. ?This is my second time to do a blood donation. Aside from helping others, my body also felt better and healthier after the donation. With this kind of activity in the campus, I would not have to go far to do a blood donation,? said Aldo.