QUEZON CITY, July 23– This year, the Department of Health (DOH) strengthens the promotion of its “voluntary” Blood Donation Program in order to provide an adequate supply of safe and non-remunerated blood supply. 
 
In support of this campaign, the DOH- CALABARZON (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, Quezon) through the National Voluntary Blood Services Program (NVBSP) has conducted a series of blood donation drive in various provinces in celebration of National Blood Donors Month with the theme “Safe Blood for All” (Be There for Someone Else, Give Blood. Share Life). 
 
“The feeling of responsibility to help others and save their lives by voluntarily donating a pint of blood is the foundation of a safe and sufficient blood supply. But even with the regular blood-letting activities we still have to continue to recruit voluntary blood donors and generate public awareness on the need for safe blood and blood products,” Dr. Noel G. Pasion, Local Health Support Division Chief stated during his message at the opening of the third voluntary blood-letting campaign at the Cultural Center of Laguna in Sta Cruz, Laguna. 

“We need to endeavor to attain a community in every province or municipality with dedicated and devoted blood donors who will continue to provide voluntary non-remunerated blood donation yearly,” he added.

The blood donation campaign started on June 14, 2019 at the Tagaytay International Convention Center with a total of 681 bags of blood collected and on July 5, 2019 at the Carmona Community Center with 759 bags then at the Laguna Cultural Center in Sta. Cruz, Laguna on July 12, 2019 with 150 bags. A total of 1,590 bags collected for the three provinces in coordination with the provincial health offices and the Philippine Blood Center. 

The regional office conducts regular blood-letting to employees to help ensure a sufficient supply and the quality and safety of blood and blood products for patients whose lives or well-being depend on blood transfusion.

Republic Act No. 7719, also known as the National Blood Services Act of 1994, promotes voluntary blood donation to provide sufficient supply of safe blood and to regulate blood banks. This activity aims to inculcate public awareness that blood donation is a humanitarian act. 

According to NVBSP, to be able to donate blood, a potential donor’s weight must be about 110 lbs. or 50 kg, blood volume collected will depend mainly on body weight, must have a pulse rate between 60 and 100 beats/minute with regular rhythm, blood pressure must be between 90 and 160 systolic and 60 and 100 diastolic and hemoglobin at least 125 g/L.   

Pasion also disclosed that donating blood has its own benefits which can reduce the risk of having a cancer. “It may also help in improving cardiovascular health and reducing obesity.” 

“A blood is a ‘gift of life’ is priceless and cannot be assessed in monetary terms. Blood products are important in the treatment of serious illness and injuries such as trauma surgery, cancer through blood transfusion. It is also used in the management of blood disorders and for the treatment of complications during pregnancy, like hemorrhage and severe childhood anemia,” he emphasized.

The World Health organization estimates that blood donation by 1% of the population is generally the minimum needed to meet a nation’s most basic requirements for blood.

The “National Blood Donors Month” is conducted yearly in the month of July as per Proclamation No. 1021 signed on June 9, 1997. It encourages every Filipino to voluntarily donate blood for humane cause and to acknowledge blood donors for their noble act of saving lives through their gift of blood. (DOH IV-A)

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Title of the article: DOH amasses 1,590 bags of blood in Calabarzon

Author: DOH

URL or web address:
https://pia.gov.ph/news/articles/1024681

Main idea:
-DOH is encouraging the people to support their adequate blood donation to help the others who might need it.

Evidences that support the main idea:

-In support of this campaign, the DOH- CALABARZON (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, Quezon) through the National Voluntary Blood Services Program (NVBSP) has conducted a series of blood donation drive in various provinces in celebration of National Blood Donors Month with the theme “Safe Blood for All” (Be There for Someone Else, Give Blood. Share Life).

-The regional office conducts regular blood-letting to employees to help ensure a sufficient supply and the quality and safety of blood and blood products for patients whose lives or well-being depend on blood transfusion.