DOH-ARMM intensifies blood donation drive in barangays

• Source: http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?nid=2&rid=794352
• Monday, August 17, 2015

(PNA), FFC/NYP

COTABATO CITY, Aug. 18 (PNA) -- Motivated to promote public health specifically on isolated areas, Department of Health–Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (DOH-ARMM) has brought its blood donation drive to the grassroots level.

The ARMM comprises the cities of Marawi and Lamitan, and the provinces of Maguindanao, Sulu, Tawi-tawi, Basilan and Lanao del Sur.

Dr. Pancho Cruz, ARMM’s coordinator for the National Voluntary Blood Service Program, emphasized the need to maintain ample blood supply to patients in need in many of the region’s hospitals, prompting them to bring the campaign to the barangay level.

In Maguindanao alone, at least 20 municipal planning and development coordinators were fielded to orient villagers on the National Voluntary Blood Service Program with assistance from the region’s health department.

Records showed that the municipalities of Parang and North Upi are the only ones maintaining a monthly bloodletting activity in their respective areas.

The activity helps collect adequate blood units allowing patients from the two towns easy access to blood supply whenever needed at the Cotabato Regional and Medical Center situated in this city.

“The ideal number of blood units per town must be equivalent to 10 percent of its total population,” Cruz said.

Three out of 10 patients do not get the blood they need because of insufficient supply from blood banks, Cruz noted.

He added that a recent study showed that only one out of 500 Filipinos voluntarily donates blood and that seven out of every 10 units of blood transfused come from paid donors.

Blood from a paid donor, the study added, is three times more likely to have any four diseases such as malaria, syphilis, hepatitis B and Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome transmitted to patients.

The National Blood Services Act of 1994, otherwise known as Republic Act 7719, mandates voluntary blood donation by the citizenry to promote public health in the country.