Building a Culture of Health: KPB Consistently Holds Blood Drive Events with the Balikpapan Red Cross

Friday, 17 April 2026

PT Kilang Pertamina Balikpapan (KPB) once again held a blood drive and Voluntary Counseling and Testing (VCT) for HIV as a demonstration of its commitment to employee health on Wednesday (April 15). This initiative also supports blood supply in Balikpapan City and efforts to address and manage HIV/AIDS in the workplace, in line with the spirit of National Occupational Safety and Health Month 2026.

The event was organized in collaboration with the Indonesian Red Cross (PMI) of Balikpapan City and the Karang Jati Subdistrict Health Center, with 125 blood donors and 50 HIV VCT participants gathering in the lobby of PT KPB’s New Site Office (NSO) building.

According to data from the PMI of Balikpapan City, the city’s monthly blood requirement reaches approximately 2,500 to 3,000 units, making support from various parties crucial to ensuring its availability.

Meanwhile, the HIV VCT screenings were conducted through pre- and post-test counseling sessions by healthcare professionals, prioritizing the privacy and comfort of participants.

Asep Sulaeman, Vice President (VP) of Legal & Relations at PT KPB, stated that this program is part of efforts to foster a culture of care within the workplace.

“Blood donation and these VCT screenings may seem simple, but their impact is significant. We aim to cultivate positive habits in the workplace, where employees care not only about their work but also about one another. “The enthusiasm shown today serves as motivation for us to continue organizing activities like this,” he said.

In addition to helping others, blood donation also offers health benefits for donors, including maintaining heart health, stimulating the production of new blood cells, and serving as a means of early health condition detection through pre-donation screenings.

Echoing Asep’s sentiments, Rahmad Hidayat, an employee at PT KPB, expressed his enthusiasm for the event. “I’m happy to participate in this activity. Besides helping others, it also makes us more aware of the importance of maintaining our health. I hope events like this can be held regularly,” he concluded.