TAWAU: Dozens of residents here turned up to donate blood after breaking their fast in response to an urgent appeal by Hospital Tawau following a road accident involving two siblings.
The hospital earlier issued a notice saying its blood bank stock had reached a critically low level after two siblings involved in a road accident on Thursday (Mar 5) required significant blood transfusions.
According to a hospital employee working at the blood bank, about 80 people turned up to donate blood at around 8pm after breaking their fast on Friday (Mar 6).
The donation process continued late into the night and only concluded at about midnight as hospital staff worked to assist the large number of donors.
Community leader and Parti Harapan Rakyat Sabah president Tan Sri Liew Yun Fah, who visited the victim and his family at Hospital Tawau, said many members of the public responded to the appeal and came forward to donate blood for the surviving victim, a 17-year-old boy from Merotai Kecil.
The appeal followed a crash along Jalan Merotai–Tawau involving a car and a motorcycle carrying the siblings. An 18-year-old sister died early Friday morning while her 17-year-old brother remains in critical condition at Hospital Tawau.
“Doctors informed that the victim, a 17-year-old male, has safely undergone surgery and is now placed in the ICU. Let us all pray for his recovery,” he said.
Liew said the victim required blood type A and encouraged more donors to come forward if they were able to do so.
He added that individuals with other blood types were also welcome to donate to help ensure the Hospital Tawau blood bank has sufficient supply for other emergency cases.
“I was surprised to see so many people coming forward. It shows the kindness and generosity of the people of Tawau,” he said.
Liew also thanked hospital staff, especially those from the blood bank unit, for their dedication in facilitating the donation effort despite it being outside normal working hours.
“Even though it was outside working hours, they still worked tirelessly together to ensure everything went smoothly,” he said.
