Susanto said the initiative is intended to become a regular activity and should not be limited to annual events such as the Village Day commemoration.
“This initiative will not involve just one or two villages. It will be implemented in all villages as a nationwide village-based blood donation movement,” he said during a meeting with Deputy Chairman of the Indonesian Red Cross (PMI) Jakarta chapter, Eko Witjaksono, at the ministry’s office on Thursday.
He explained that the initiative was launched in response to Indonesia’s high annual demand for blood, which is estimated at around 5.6 million blood bags. However, current blood supplies often fall short of this demand.
According to Susanto, support from village communities is crucial, as they represent the majority of Indonesia’s population. He also noted that misconceptions about the effects of routine blood donation remain prevalent among some village residents.
“We believe that by improving blood donation literacy, village communities will be more willing to donate voluntarily for the benefit of the nation. Cooperation with trusted community figures is essential to convey that blood donation is beneficial for health, both for donors and recipients,” he said.
Meanwhile, Witjaksono welcomed the plan to incorporate blood donation activities into the 2026 Village Day commemoration, describing it as a strategic step with wide-reaching impact, given the involvement of communities in 75,266 villages across the country.
“This is a commendable initiative because blood donation can save lives. We appreciate all donors who voluntarily registered and contributed to this humanitarian effort,” he said.
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Translator: Tri, Kenzu
Editor: Primayanti
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