Associate Professor Goh Lee Gan

Chairman, Medical Commission

Singapore Red Cross

Dr Tan Hwee Huang

Deputy Director

Centre for Transfusion Medicine

Health Sciences Authority

Distinguished Guests

Ladies and Gentlemen,

How many of you have heard the baby voice on Radio asking "Papa, how are you today".  A very touching moment indeed, appealing for blood to save lives.  She went on to say "Clap Clap if you are ok".  Indeed you are all more than ok if you believe in saving lives through blood donation.

I am honoured to be here to join you this evening to recognise all of you, our blood donors for your invaluable contribution in saving lives.

Blood donation saves lives.  This is a simple statement but captures the altruism of donating blood.  There is no distinction between ethnic groups, religious affiliation or gender in blood donation.  It is about helping one another, reaching out and helping people that you may never meet.  But what is significant is knowing that you would be making a difference in someone’s life and to their loved ones.

Blood donation is a kind and life-giving act. To date, no one has yet found a good substitute for human blood.  Patients still have to depend on healthy people like you to give blood. 

In Singapore, our hospitals need approximately 75,000 units of blood annually to meet both emergency and regular blood transfusion needs.  It is very encouraging that with your strong support, we have been able to meet the blood supply requirements of our hospitals. 

However, it should be remembered that donated blood has a shelf life and can only be kept for a limited period of time.   Having more people sign on to be blood donors, and to donate blood on a regular basis of 3-4 times a year are the best ways to ensure that we can continue to have an adequate supply of blood in our blood bank.

You are our sterling examples and motivation towards getting others to see that blood donation is a civic minded and compassionate act of giving.

I would like to congratulate the over 300 blood donors who will be recognised shortly for your selfless contribution to our national blood programme and community.  I would also like to take this opportunity to thank the grassroots organisations and companies here this evening for their support in organising blood drives and making it convenient for blood donors to make their donation.  

I often wondered:  what after ceremonies such as this.  There must be more we could do to benefit from this fraternity.  I would like to suggest that the Red Cross use the data base of blood donors to start on a fraternity to see how we can help all gold and bronze award winners to stay healthy and to continue to donate blood.  Call them The Red Brigade.  Take care of them like the precious blood they give.  These civic-minded blood donors, I am sure, will be able to contribute to society in ways more than blood.  Tap them for more.  The CDC, together with the Red Cross, I am sure would be able to do a joint programme to make them worthy Blood Brothers.

In closing, I would like to encourage those who are not yet a blood donor to be one.  Your contribution will go a long way towards saving lives.

I wish you an enjoyable evening.  

Thank you.