For the second year in a row, US Embassy Jakarta partnered with the Indonesian Red Cross and online movement Blood4Life to hold the `Blood4Nation` blood drive.
This year`s event, which took place in Jakarta and six other cities around Indonesia, raised 943 bags of blood, all of which went to PMI for patients in need.
At the official opening April 13 in Jakarta, US Embassy Jakarta Deputy Chief of Mission Kristen Bauer and PMI Chairman and former Vice President M Jusuf Kalla delivered remarks and spoke about the importance of donating blood.
In addition to the @america cultural center in Jakarta, Blood4Nation took place at six American Corners on college campuses around Indonesia.
The campuses and blood donation totals were: Universitas Sumatra Utara (Medan) - 178, Institut Teknologi Bandung (Bandung) - 107, Universitas Tanjungpura (Pontianak) - 62, Universitas Muhammadiyah Malang (Malang) - 109, Universitas Gadjah Mada (Yogyakarta) - 96, and Universitas Hasanuddin (Makassar) - 139.
Donors in the different cities included college students, young professionals, campus personnel, and, in some cities, members of the Indonesian military and police.
In support of Blood4Nation, ten Indonesian bands volunteered to perform at @america and attract more donors. The bands included Pee Wee Gaskins, HiVi!, Piyu, Dea Mirella, Calvin Jeremy, Anji, Coboy Junior, DI-DA, Melanie Subono, and Yuke and Dom.
In between songs, the performers talked about the importance of donating blood and shared their personal experiences as both blood donors and recipients.
Over the two days at @america, more than 2,000 people came out to donate blood and listen to the music, which was an great experience for fans that involved lots of photos and autographs with the performers.
(Tx.A014)
Editor: Priyambodo RH
Copyright © ANTARA 2013
