Thai Red Cross Blood Donations Honour King's 60 Years On Throne

[george]

Thai Red Cross blood donations honour King's 60 years on throne

BANGKOK: -- The Thai Red Cross Council's National Blood Centre is calling on the public to donate blood as 'a gift of life' as part of the kingdom's celebration of the 60th anniversary of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej's accession to the throne.

With its campaign entitled, 'Love the King, Donate Blood to Honour the King's 60 Years on Throne', from Jan 1 through Dec 31, 2006, the National Blood Centre hopes to receive 1.6-1.8 million units of donated blood nationwide, 480,000 units in metropolitan Bangkok, and 1.2 million units in other provinces, said Dr. Rachanee O-Charoen, head of the centre.

In addition, the campaign will encourage more public-spirited donors to give blood every three months, or four times a year. The campaign is designed to generate the 10 per cent increase in the number of those who practice donating blood quarterly, she said.

Dr. Rachanee also said that World Health Organization (WHO) has asked Thailand to become the core of Southeast Asian countries organizing activities expressing thanks to blood donors to celebrate the World Blood Donor Day on June 14.

Activities -- including a parade of over 3,000 youths from ASEAN countries -- will be held in conjunction with the celebration of the King's 60 years on the throne.

Thailand's monarch, His Majesty the King Bhumibol Adulyadej is the world's longest-reigning monarch. He ascended the throne on June 9, 1946.

--TNA 2006-01-20