Blood drive a multi-national affair

On 28 April 2007, the NYJC Red Cross Humanitarian Chapter held a blood drive on campus in cooperation with the Health Sciences Authority. In just 40 minutes, the I-space was hardly recognizable. There were a few remarks suggesting the whole set-up looked like a "hospital" or "refugee camp", but regardless of its appearance, it was a place displaying our love for humanity.

The remarkable thing about this humanitarian effort was that it involved people from around the world. Many of the HSA staff present, including a doctor, were not Singapore citizens but Myanmar citizens. One of the potential donors, Ms. Hu, was a foreigner coming from the People's Republic of China. Humanitarian qualities would seem to share something in common with blood: both transcend political and cultural boundaries.

The response to the blood drive was surprisingly high, with both staff and students being eager to make a donation. Members of the Red Cross as well as the medical staff present were kept busy, maintaining the flow of registration and ushering donors about. Despite the long queues, everyone was patient and cooperative.

Special mention goes to the tutors, many of whom had to leave early during the registration to conduct lessons but came back afterwards. Likewise, the Red Cross volunteers, who had to be excused from tutorials for the sake of their service to humanity.

By Benjamin Low