As the number of young blood donors decreases, members of an Osaka-based idol group have been appointed as the "Blood Donation Support Team," and a commemorative ceremony was held to call for cooperation.
According to the Osaka Prefectural Red Cross Blood Center, the percentage of people in their teens to 30s who donated blood in Osaka Prefecture was 36.8% in fiscal 2018, but 33.2% last fiscal year, making the younger generation a larger percentage. It is on a declining trend.
Under these circumstances, four members, including Mai Hirayama of the Osaka-based idol group "NMB48," will be appointed as the "Blood Donation Support Team" in order to appeal to young people about the need for blood donation and call for their cooperation. A ceremony was held in Osaka on the 12th.
At the ceremony, Fumiya Hirayama, director of the Osaka Red Cross Blood Center, said, ``I want you all to act as powerful influencers and disseminate information to many people.''
In addition to participating in blood donation-related events, the four members plan to call for cooperation on social media and other channels.
Mr. Hirayama of NMB48 said, ``I believe that blood donation is life itself.I would like to work to get the younger generation in particular interested and give them an opportunity to start donating blood.''