Blood Donation Program in Malaysia: Government Initiatives towards Attracting Volunteer Blood Donors

  • Authors

    • Nur Hairani Abd Rahman
    • Muhammad Asri Mohd Ali
    • Mohammed Farhan Md. Yusof
    2018-10-07
    https://doi.org/10.14419/ijet.v7i4.15.22997
  • Blood Donation, Blood Donor, Government Initiatives, Government Program and Policy, Malaysia

  • Millions of people need blood because of many reasons such as accidents, routine surgeries, treatment of serious diseases such as cancer and thalassemia. In many countries, the availability of blood product depends on a small number of volunteer donors, including Malaysia. Present trends in blood collection and capacity usage in Malaysia have raised concerns about the ability to meet potential needs. To ensure an adequate blood supply in health facilities is a challenging task for the government especially Ministry of Health Malaysia. It is important to develop a program with influential initiatives that can help to boost public interest and willingness to involve in blood donation program. This study aims to identify and examine the initiatives conducted by the government in order to attract the interest of public to become volunteer blood donor. This study identified that there were five main initiatives implemented by the government to attract public to donate blood, namely: (a) intensive advertising (via mainstream television and radio channels); (b) mobile blood transfusion service center; (c) incentives to blood donors; (d) establishments of donation suites, and; (e) collaboration with other government institution for blood donation campaign. Although current situation showed significant changes in terms of public awareness and willingness towards this program, but there are rooms for improvement for the government to consider in maintaining the balance between blood supply and demand in the country. Focusing on public to register, as frequent or repeated volunteer blood donor, is obviously one of the main available option that current situation need to strengthen.

     

  • References

    1. [1] Abolghasemi, H., Hosseini-Divkalayi, N.S. and Seighali, F. (2010). Blood donor incentives: a step forward or backward. Asian Journal of Tranfusion Science, 4(1), 9-13.

      [2] Achariam, T. (2017). Cosway teams up with ADCAS to hold blood donation campaign. The Sun Daily (2017, July 30). Retrieved from http://www.thesundaily.my/news/2017/07/30/cosway-teams-adcas-hold-blood-donation-campaign (Accessed on 25 June 2018)

      [3] Ajzen, I. (1991). The theory of planned behavior. Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, 50(2), 179-211.

      [4] Borneo Post Online. (2017, May 18). Blood donation awareness still low. Retrieved from http://www.theborneopost.com/ 2017/05/18/blood-donation-awareness-still-low/ (Accessed on 20 June 2018)

      [5] Gasper, R., Gorao, S., Seibt, B., Lima, I., Barnett, J., Moss, A. and Wills, J. (2014). Tweeting during food crises: a psychosocial analysis of threat coping expressions in Span, during the 2011 European EHEC outbreak. International Journal of Human Computer Studies, 72(2), 239-254.

      [6] Godin, G., Conner, M., Sheeran, P., Belanger-Gravel, A. and Germain, M. (2007). Determinants of repeated blood donation among new and experienced blood donors. Transfusion, 47(9), 1607-1615.

      [7] Godin, G., Vezina-Im, L.A., Belanger-Gravel, A. & Amireaultm S. (2011). Efficacy of interventions promoting blood donation: a systematic review. Transfusion Medicine Reviews, 26(3), 224-237.

      [8] Harian Metro. (2015, June 15). Hanya 2.2% rakyat derma darah di Malaysia. Retrieved from https://www.hmetro.com.my/ mutakhir/2015/06/57837/hanya-22-rakyat-derma-darah-di-malaysia (Accessed on 20 June 2018)

      [9] Khan, H.U., Daud, A., Ishfaq, U. and Amjad, T., Aljohani, N., Abbasi, R.A. and Alowibdi, J.S. (2017). Modelling to identify influential bloggers in the blogosphere: a survey. Computers in Human Behavior, 68, 64-82.

      [10] Kosmo Online. (2018, January 17). Hospital Sibu kekurangan bekalan darah. Retrieved from http://www.kosmo.com.my/ negara/hospital-sibu-kekurangan-bekalan-darah-1.591989 (Accessed on 25 June 2018)

      [11] Ling L. M., Hui T. S., Tan A. K. G., and Ling G. S. 2018. Determinant of blood donation status in Malaysia: Profiling the non-donors, occasional donors and regular donors. Kajian Malaysia 36(1): 43-62.

      [12] Mims Today. (2016, April 10). Shopping malls urged to set up blood donation facilties. Retrieved from https://today.mims.com/shopping-malls-urged-to-set-up-blood-donation-facilities (Accessed 25 June 2018)

      [13] Ministry of Health. (2012). Derma darah. Retrieved from http://www.myhealth.gov.my/derma-darah/ (Accessed on 25 June 2018)

      [14] Ministry of Health. (2016). Myth of blood donation. Retrieved from http://www.myhealth.gov.my/en/myth-blood-donation/ (Accessed on 20 June 2018)

      [15] Mohamed, I.S. (2016). Pusat derma darah tetap di Mid Valley. Harian Metro (2016, April 5). Retrieved from https://www.hmetro.com.my/node/128074 (Accessed on 25 June 2018)

      [16] Mosely, A. and Stoker, G. (2013). Nudging citizens? Prospects and pitfalls confronting a new heuristic. Resources, Conservation and Recycling, 79(), -10.

      [17] National Blood Center. (2018). Keistimewaan penderma darah. Retrieved from http://www.pdn.gov.my/index.php?option= com_content&view=article&id=16&Itemid=227&lang=ms (Accessed on 25 June 2018)

      [18] News Straits Times. (December 2011). Blood donation appeal ahead of festivals. [Online]. Available:http://www.nst.com. my/local/general/blood-donation-appeal-ahead-of -festivals-1.25949

      [19] Ngah, H. (2017). PDN rayu orang ramai derma darah. Berita Harian (2017, January 21). Retrieved from https://www.bharian.com.my/node/237829 (Accessed on 20 June 2018)

      [20] Rustsaert, p., Pieniak, Z., Regan, A., McConnon, A., Kuttschreuter, M., Lores, M., Lozano, N, Guzzon, A., Santare, D., VErbeke, W. (2014). Social media as a useful tool in food risk and benefit communication. A Strategic Orientation Approach. Food Policy, 46, 84-93.

      [21] Sinar Harian. (2017, June 22). Orang ramai digesa derma darah. Retrieved from http://www.sinarharian.com.my/nasional/ orang-ramai-digesa-derma-darah-1.693795 (Accessed on 20 June 2018)

      [22] Stoker, G. and Mosely, A. (2010). Motivation, behaviour and the microfoundations of public services. London: 2020 Public Services Trust.

      [23] Sura, S., Ahn, J. and Lee, O. (2017). Factors influencing intention to donate via social network site (SNS): from Asian’s perspective. Telematics and Informatics, 34(1), 164-176.

      [24] The Star Online. (2018, June 4). KT folk urged to donate blood. Retrieved from https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/ 2018/06/04/kt-folk-urged-to-donate-blood/ (Accessed on 25 June 2018)

      [25] Wooi Seong, K., V. Raffeal and Y. Ayob. 2014. Adopting a proactive approach to blood shortages: Experience from the national blood centre, Malaysia. ISBT Science Series 9(1): 189–192. https://doi.org/10.1111/voxs.12104

      [26] World Health Organization. 2016. Blood safety and availability: Factsheet. Geneva: World Health Organization. http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs279/en/.

  • Downloads

  • How to Cite

    Hairani Abd Rahman, N., Asri Mohd Ali, M., & Farhan Md. Yusof, M. (2018). Blood Donation Program in Malaysia: Government Initiatives towards Attracting Volunteer Blood Donors. International Journal of Engineering & Technology, 7(4.15), 240-243. https://doi.org/10.14419/ijet.v7i4.15.22997