Iloilo fraternities unite for blood donation activity

• Source:https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1076727
• Friday, August 2, 2019

By Perla Lena (PNA)

ILOILO CITY -- Various fraternities and sororities committed to join together and help the local government unit of Iloilo City address the dengue crisis.

In a press conference Thursday, the fraternities and sororities that came together under the United Fraternities and Sororities of Panay group announced their plan to hold a blood donation drive on August 4 at the Gaisano City in La Paz district here.

Dubbed “Dugo Para sa Banwa Ko, the blood donation drive hoped to gather close to 100 frasority (fraternity and sorority) members to donate blood.

“We know that dengue is prevalent now. We came up with an idea to help Iloilo City fight against dengue,” said Ian Ferdinand Rico of the Tau Gamma Phi.

Rico said the advocacy will not stop on August 4. Another donation drive will be held on August 14 as part of Iloilo City’s Charter Day celebration.

He shared the advocacy initially started with just three fraternities -- Scouts Royale Brotherhood and Sisterhood, Tau Gamma Phi and Alpha Phi Omega -- when they organized a unity run last summer.

“This does not stop here. We have future plans to engage in other community services,” he said.

The blood donation drive is in partnership with the Iloilo City government and the Philippine Red Cross-Iloilo chapter.

Rico also called on other fraternities and “join the cause” so they can extend help to a bigger number of patients in need of blood.

Those that have already committed to join are Alpha Kappa Rho, Tau Gamma Phi, Alpha Sigma Rho, Alpha Phi Omega, Gamma Phi Omicron, and Scouts Royale Brotherhood and Sisterhood Inc.

Councilor Alan Zaldivar said they hope that the target of 100 blood donors will be successful.

“We are going to send out flyers so they can prepare for the event on August 4,” Zaldivar said.

Meantime, he said that he still has to find out whether or not the city government can shoulder the expenses for the processing of blood intended for dengue patients.

He said that the fund, following the declaration of the city under the state of calamity, was intended for manpower, medical equipment, facilities, and assistance.

“We wanted to make it clear if what will be the coverage of this assistance,” Zaldivar said.

Data from the Iloilo City Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit (ICESU) revealed that from January 1 until July 27, 2019, the city has 1,391 dengue cases with 10 deaths.

The ICESU also noted that one barangay remains to be a hot spot while 62 others have clustering of cases.

The clustering of cases refers to the presence of three or more cases within four consecutive weeks while the hotspot shows an increasing number of cases for four consecutive weeks or record of deaths.