The Sabah State Health Department recently brought together communities from across the state to honour everyday heroes who selflessly give a part of themselves — their blood — to help save lives.
In conjunction with World Blood Donor Day 2025, Sabah’s state-level celebration featured a weekend of meaningful community engagement, public health education and formal recognition of dedicated blood donors. With the theme “Derma Darah Semai Harapan. Bersama Kita Selamatkan Nyawa” (Donate Blood, Sow Hope. Together We Save Lives), the event highlighted the shared responsibility of supporting healthcare and saving lives.
The celebration opened with a community-focused day filled with engaging activities. Crowds gathered for a Fun Walk, Zumba sessions, educational exhibitions, health quizzes and the launch of Gen 20:25, a youth-focused initiative promoting early involvement in blood donation. Families and children also took part in colouring contests, traditional games and a health talk on iron-rich nutrition for better donor health.
The state-level blood donation campaign followed at the Sabah International Convention Centre, where a total of 193 units of blood were collected from police trainees, military personnel and members of the public. The campaign served as a strong reminder of how collaborative efforts can lead to significant impact.
HRH Tunku Mariamz bte Al-Marhum Al-Mutawakkil Alallah Sultan Iskandar Al-Haj officiated the closing ceremony. In her speech, she described blood donation as a noble sacrifice and encouraged the public to consider organ donation as another way to help those in need.
During the ceremony, 53 individuals were honoured as “Wira Darah” (Blood Heroes) in recognition of their commitment to voluntary blood donation and campaign organisation across Sabah. Her Royal Highness personally presented each recipient with a certificate of appreciation.
Dr. Maria Suleiman, Director of the Sabah State Health Department, announced a steady increase in blood donations in the state. Sabah recorded 77,990 donors in the previous year, up from 75,644 the year before, reflecting encouraging growth in public awareness and participation.
The event concluded with a group photo session, a press briefing and a site visit to the blood donation area. These elements reinforced the importance of sustaining long-term public involvement in blood donation efforts.
World Blood Donor Day in Sabah served not only as a celebration, but also as a reflection of the state’s broader commitment to public health, community service and volunteerism. It offered a powerful reminder that the act of giving—no matter how small—can be life-changing for someone in need.
Sabah continues to lead by example, showing that with compassion and unity, every community has the power to make a difference.
