Reinvigorate selves, help save lives, DOH tells blood donors

Give blood, reinvigorate yourselves — and help save lives.

This was what the Department of Health (DOH) advised the public yesterday, saying voluntary blood donation is not only good for one’s health but could also save the lives of others.

Health Undersecretary Ethelyn Nieto said Filipinos are still not keen on donating blood, fearing needle pricks and believing that the procedure is hazardous to one’s health.

"But it is actually part of a healthy lifestyle to donate blood. The blood that we lose can be replaced in three weeks so our body gets to have fresh blood," she noted.

The month of July is being celebrated as "National Voluntary Blood Donation Month."

A few years ago the DOH and the Philippine National Red Cross initiated a "blood Olympics" in some schools to raise awareness about the importance of voluntary blood donation.

Under the program, participating schools compete in collecting blood from their students and personnel.

The move is in line with the implementation of Republic Act 7719 or the National Blood Service Act, which is aimed at ensuring an adequate supply of safe blood in the country.

The law mandates the closure of all commercial blood banks starting in 1998. This law has not been implemented, however, because of a temporary restraining order issued by the Supreme Court on the request of blood bank operators.

Health authorities suspect the quality of blood sold in commercial blood banks because it comes from paid donors who often conceal their health conditions and practices that could cause their blood to be contaminated.

As mandated by the World Health Organization, all donated blood should be tested for infectious diseases such as hepatitis B and C, syphilis and human immunodeficiency virus.

Nieto added that based on international standards, one percent of the population should be donating blood annually.

This means that over 800,000 Filipinos should be lining up once a year to give their blood plasma.

But at present, only 70 percent of this target has been achieved. And 60 percent of these are "replacement donors" who could be either relatives or paid donors posing as relatives of patients.

Nieto maintained that the DOH intends to strengthen its education campaign to encourage more Filipinos to give blood.