"God willing, we will collect 4.5 million blood pouches next year," said the former vice president in his report at the presentation of social service medals of honor to 1,329 voluntary blood donors in Jakarta on Tuesday.
President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono presented the medals symbolically to 20 of the 1,329 outstanding blood donors living in different parts of the country.
On the occasion Kalla said the average blood need in Indonesia was 4.8 million pouches per year, and 80 percent of the volume was met by voluntary donors while the rest came from substitution donors or those who donated their blood for family members.
"We will try hard to have even more voluntary donors next year," Kalla said, adding that PMI at present had 212 blood donation units across the country.
He said the Indonesian Red Cross would optimize the blood donation units by improving the blood donation system.
Besides, he said PMI would also set up blood donation units at shopping malls and university campuses across Indonesia in an effort to encourage the younger generation to make blood donation activities part of their life style.
Meanwhile, President Yudhoyono symbolically presented the medals to 20 recipients, representing 1,329 voluntary donors who had donated their blood 100 times.
The voluntary blood donors who received the medals from the president came from 19 provinces.
Present at the medals presentation ceremony were United Indonesia Cabinet ministers, and representatives from International Red Cross Committee and International Red Cross and Red Crescent Association.
(Uu.O001/HAJM/F001)
Editor: Luki Satrio
Copyright © ANTARA 2011
