DOH to honor officials, LGUs that support blood donation campaign

CEBU, Philippines – In line with the celebration of the Blood Donor’s Month, outstanding local executives and local government units that have actively supported and implemented blood donation campaigns of the Department of Health’s Regional Blood Center will be recognized this July 9 during the 11th National Sandugo Awarding ceremonies.

RBC chief Dr. Reynette Legaray said local chief executives and officials will be awarded because of their participation in the campaign for the full implementation of 100 percent voluntary blood donation.

Legaray said barangay captains, mayors and governors from all over the country will be recognized and they are hoping that through this, more would support the campaign.

So far, he said that in the barangays that they have gone to in the province of Cebu, the concept of voluntary blood donation is well-received and supported.

RBC disclosed that the town of Argao is a top performer in the campaign and is one of the municipalities with the most number of willing blood donors. In Argao alone, the RBC was able to collect over 50 bags of blood in a day.Legaray said they also have to talk to the cities but they don’t foresee any problem because they expect most of them to have ordinances on blood donation like in Talisay City.

Aside from Argao, the other awardees are Carcar, San Francisco in Camotes, Barangay Suba in Danao City, Bogo and some companies like ABS-CBN, Timex, PADPAO and schools like the University of San Jose-Recoletos.

Criteria for the award include outstanding support and commitment in the national voluntary blood services program in the whole year of 2008 and the provision of resources in the promotion of voluntary blood donation which include the budget allocation for the projects, high percentage of voluntary blood donation in their respective areas of responsibility are included in the criteria, including those collected in government and private hospitals, PNBC blood centers, local health services and non-government offices.

Dr. Winifredo Pernia of the Philippine Blood Center explained that at least one percent of the total population of the LGU should be voluntary blood donors. “If the barangay has 2,000 residents, 20 should be regular blood donors,” he explained. — AJ de la Torre/WAB (THE FREEMAN)