Every drop counts: Blind masseur's journey as regular blood donor

KUCHING: Blind masseur Tazlan Jen made it a point to be at the Sarawak General Hospital blood bank on June 14 to be counted among the donors for the World Blood Donor Day celebration.
The 58-year-old, who lost his eyesight 30 years ago due to optic nerve damage, has been a regular donor at the hospital's blood bank for the last five years, but this was one special day he didn't want to miss.
Tazlan, recounting how he began his journey as a regular donor, said he made the decision in 2020 after learning that the hospital was in urgent need of blood.
"It was a time when many donors found it hard to get to the hospital, which had become a highly restricted area due to the Covid-19 pandemic and movement control order (MCO)," he said.
Despite the challenges, Tazlan said he and his wife made up their minds to become donors after learning about the health benefits and, more importantly, how donated blood could help save lives.
"My wife and I were told that by being blood donors, we could potentially save up to three lives, while also maintaining our own health," he said.
His wife is also a person with a disability.
"Since then, we've made it a point to donate every three months," said Tazlan, who operates a traditional massage centre jointly with his wife.

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