REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, SEMARANG -- Central Java contributes 10 percent to the nation's supply of blood, or 5 million bags per year, Indonesian Red Cross (PMI) Chairman Jusuf Kalla said here on Saturday.

"The nation's demand for blood is around 5 million bags per year, 10 percent of which comes from Central Java," Kalla said at a function to launch a blood donor movement in Semarang, Central Java.

The PMI chairman, along with Central Java Governor Ganjar Pranowo, began the blood donor movement with the involvement of 3,500 young people from high school and university students, along with volunteers.

Jusuf Kalla, the former vice president, noted that Central Java supplied around 500,000 bags of blood per year to meet 10 percent of the nation's blood demand.

Therefore, he said he appreciated the blood donor movement that attracted thousands of young people to donate blood through the Indonesian Red Cross.

"With 3,500 young people attending this blood donor movement, this is the largest one that I have ever attended because it is participated in by 3,500 young people to donate their blood of around 2, 500 to 3,000 bags," Kalla said.

Further, he noted that the nation's demand for blood has been met by the supply from all regions across the country, and, therefore, there was no need to worry about blood shortages.

"There is no problem with national blood supplies, because it has been met from the supply from all regions, and we are ready to meet blood demands during the fasting month, and even in a disaster," he noted.

Meanwhile, Central Java branch PMI Chairman Sasongko Tedjo said blood donor activity should be part of the lifestyle of young people.

According to Tedjo, blood supplies in Central Java in 2013 reached 500 thousands bags, 97 percent of which came from voluntary donors.

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