Through the event “Blood Donation” that is held by the Executive Body of Students UPH (BEM-UPH) at AEON Mall BSD City on 23 and 24 March 2019, UPH successfully donated 954 blood bags for the Indonesian Red Cross (PMI). “Blood Donation” was held at three locations: UPH main campus, medical school campus, and AEON Mall BSD City. There were 1,011 participants for the “Blood Donation” event.

For the blood donating event, BEM-UPH involved the internal and external parties at different times. Involving UPH’s internal party, BEM-UPH, together with FK UPH, held “Blood Donations II 2019” with the theme “There’s a Hero Inside You, One Action Save Life” and collected 544 blood bags that were donated to PMI Kab. Lebak and Kab. Serang. This event was held on 4 to 5 March 2019 at UPH Lippo Village campus and on 13 to 14 March 2019 at UPH Gedung FK.

With the external party, BEM-UPH collaborated with Movement on Social & Environment (MOSE) Universitas Prasetiya Mulya in “Blood Donation BEM-UPH X MOSE 2019” at AEON Mall BSD City. With the theme “Find the Hero in You”, the committee successfully gathered 410 blood bags and donated it to PMI Pandegelang for the first day and PMI Kab. Tangerang for the second day.

Through the blood donation events, BEM-UPH hoped to raise awareness to the people regarding the lack of blood bags in Indonesia.

Sherika, the Head of “Blood Donation II 2019”, said, “Indonesia is consistent in the lack of blood bags. In 2018 to 2019, we still lack one million blood bags even though there is a rising need for it. Even PMI Lebak told us that their blood bag supply is null. So many people need it but they must wait for the PMI to provide it for them. That is why we want to raise people’s social awareness that blood supply is still lacking.”

According to Sherika, the committee strived to attract the participation of old and new donors. They attracted their attention through publications within and without, traveling around Karawaci with the “Blood Donation” official mascot. In addition, Sherika said that being a donor is healthy for the body and you can be a hero to someone by doing so.

PMI Lebak’s representative, Dicky Arsandi, said that blood bags are indeed lacking. Arsandi hopes that they can collect at least 200 blood bags for PMI Lebak. However, if that goal isn’t reached, he stated that it is not a problem because he understands that there are people who are unable to donate their blood due to conditions such as HB, tension, and others.

“Our hope is for today’s donor to become tomorrow’s donor. The number of patients who need blood is much more than those who donated their blood. Because of that, PMI hopes that this blood donation event will become routine and will be held at other universities so that there will be more people donating their blood,” voiced Arsandi.

Arsandi’s hope was answered by UPH’s students. It was proven that there are more first-time donors this time around.

Mary, a Visual Communication Design student 2016, said, “I am pushed to donate my blood because I saw the promotion and I was invited by my friend who donates blood routinely. I am moved to do the same. I know that this is for a good cause. Therefore I did not hesitate and I have decided to donate my blood again in the future.”

The blood donation event is a work program BEM-UPH for the academic year 2018/2019. Previously on October 2018, BEM-UPH has collected 478 blood bags on “Blood Donation I”. As of now, the blood bags collected on the academic year of 2018/2019 by BEM-UPH have amounted to 1,432.