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SINGAPORE: The number of serious burn victims seen by the Singapore General Hospital Burns Centre has inched up in the last three years from 14 to 19.
But the number of skin donors has dipped averaging two per year now.
And two victims in the news recently cleared up some myths at a public forum on the issue on Saturday.
Member of Parliament Seng Han Thong suffered 14 per cent burns to his body after being set on fire at a community event in January.
He needed skin grafts to his face, arms and chest and was in a sling on Saturday after yet another graft.
Also at the forum was Karthigayan Ramakrishnan, who suffered 45 per cent burns to his body in 2007, during a military accident in Taiwan while doing his National Service.
He wants to pay it forward and has pledged to donate his skin.
Only 10 per cent of the supply in SGH's Skin Bank is from local donors.
Mr Karthigayan said: "People will see that even a burns survivor will donate so I can do my part. I'm not expecting a lot of people to suddenly donate. If at least 200 people after watching this or attending this forum say they will vouch, definitely their friends and family will come forward.
"If there is insufficient skin in the skin bank, it's a very expensive procedure, so at least it will lessen the cost for treatment of burns victims."
Mr Seng said: "I used my own skin. So, when I suffered 14 per cent injury, the skin was in fact removed from my own skin. So I realised the pain. So although I suffered 14 per cent burn, I suffered 28 per cent injury. And it takes a long time to heal." - CNA/vm
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