On the International Scene

Blood donors are needed around the world. Donors' motivation and donation practices differ between countries and cultures. When we find interesting stories that describe international blood donation, we will share them with the readers of Bloodlines. The following story appeared in the April 23 edition of the ABC Newsletter.

Donating blood is seen as "a noble act to share the merit" by people in Myanmar, a predominantly Buddhist country. Last week, just before Myanmar's traditional Thingyan (water throwing) Festival, a reporter talked with blood donors at the Central National Blood Bank and the Yangon General Hospital. One woman donor said she thought that many Burmese donate blood because they cannot afford to give money and other material goods. People may be poor because they did less charity service in their previous existence, she said, adding "That is why I try to make more donations so far as I am alive." A middle-aged monk, who was interviewed while he was eating a meal provided by the blood bank after his donation, said he has come from a remote township outside Yangon 52 times to donate blood since he was 20 years old. After his 48th donation, he was awarded a third-level honorable title by the Myanmar government for "prominent undertaking in social charity services." About 33 percent of donors at the Central National Blood Bank are monks, a blood bank official said.