Pandelela with Dr Md Masrin.
Pandelela signs a poster to symbolise her agreement with SGH to be its ‘Youth Ambassador’.
KUCHING: Sarawak-born national diver Pandelela Rinong Pamg has inked a deal with Sarawak General Hospital (SGH) to be its ‘Youth Ambassador’ for blood donation campaigns.
The agreement was signed during a blood donation drive at Emart Batu Kawa on Saturday.
SGH Pathology Department’s Blood Transfusion Services and Blood Bank unit head Dr Md Masrin Md Zahrin said this initiative was to encourage more people, especially the younger generation, to donate blood.
“Most of our regular donors at SGH are old, and they cannot donate blood anymore; hence, we need more young donors. We have chosen Pandelela as our ambassador to inspire people, especially the younger generation, to donate blood since she is a Sarawakian. In addition, she symbolises healthy living, and she is a highly talented individual,” he said.
Dr Md Masrin said the agreement with Pandelela was a voluntary social and charity move, and no terms were attached to it.
SGH, he added, was also eyeing another Sarawak’s pride, Hafiz Suip, to be its ambassador for the same purpose.
He said the blood stock at SGH was holding up well.
“SGH needs about 60 pints of blood daily to cope with demands.”
The SGH blood bank is open from Mondays to Fridays from 8am to 4.30pm. Its blood bank unit also organises mobile blood donation campaigns, and more details can be obtained from their website at hus.moh.gov.my
Meanwhile, Pandelela disclosed she was learning a new dive for the World Championships in Kazan, Russia, this coming July.
“Apart from training, I am pursuing my studies in the field of sports science at Universiti Malaya (UM). I still have about five years to go before I graduate,” said Pandelela, who was here for the Pesta Birumuh 2015 (Harvest Festival) in Serian on Saturday.
Besides blood donation campaigns, Pandelela has also been appointed ambassador for the ‘Healthy Liver Campaign’ by the Ministry of Health to promote greater awareness about liver diseases and to educate the public on the factors that cause chronic liver diseases and how they can be prevented.