As Penang Hospital (HPP) Blood Bank is running short of supply, a People's Volunteer Corps (RELA) officer was all out to participate in a donation drive today, though he had already donated last month.

According to RELA Penang acting president Lim Poh Tek he had participated in a donation drive for a private hospital on April 10, but insisted on contributing again towards the St. John Ambulance Malaysia's national blood drive at Kompleks Masyarakat Penyayang, here today.

Despite Lim's determination and generosity, he was turned down by staff during the donation drive as he could only donate blood three months after his last blood donation, in line with the Ministry of Health's guidelines.

"I would still donate again if given the opportunity, but for now I can only support my buddies who are donating today," he told Bernama when met today.

Seven other RELA Penang members were present to donate blood at the event .

The St. John Ambulance of Malaysia is organising a three-day blood donation drive across 23 locations in Kuala Lumpur and nine other states from May 29 to 31.

Lim said most of the RELA Penang members have participated in a blood donation campaign on March 31 and are expected to volunteer again after the three-month grace period.

He said the Conditional Movement Control Order (CMCO) and the COVID-19 pandemic had led to the reduced number of blood donors in Penang and shortage of supply at the HPP Blood Bank.

Meanwhile, HPP Department of Transfusion Medicine assistant information officer Marshita Othman said the blood donation campaign today received encouraging response.

She said though the organisers only targeted 60 participants at the campaign, the number had doubled by 2 pm.

"Most likely we will be able to collect about 140 blood bags by the end of the blood donation drive (in Penang) today," she added.

-- BERNAMA