By Alpine L. Killa
Bontoc, Mountain Province – The Red Cross – Mountain Province Chapter is encouraging the public to donate blood to save the lives of those who need it during critical times.
“We need to maintain a safe, quality, and accessible blood supply for those who are in need of blood from Mountain Province and even those from nearby provinces,” Officer in Charge Veronica Tactay of Red Cross – Mountain Province Chapter said.
July has been designated as National Blood Donor’s Month pursuant to Presidential Proclamation No. 1021 in 1997. This year’s theme, “Thank you for Saving My Life” highlights the stories of people whose lives have been saved through blood donation. It is one way to motivate regular blood donors to continue giving blood and also to encourage people in good health who have not donated blood, particularly the young ones to begin doing so.
With this, Tactay said that their office is conducting in-house blood mass donation for the whole month of July, from Monday to Friday. Qualified blood donors are ages 18- 65 years old. 16-17 year old may donate but with the consent of parents or a guardian.
Tactay emphasized the importance of donating blood to one’s health. She explained that old cells will be replenished with new cells and cholesterol will be regulated if one donates blood. “Giving blood is giving the most precious gift to another person. The gift that will extend the life of the sick,” she added.
She clarified that the donated blood is not for sale but patients who use the blood are required to pay the screening fee of the blood and to replace it with any blood type so that others who are also in need will have ready stock to use. The screening fee to be paid by patients in need of donated blood includes test for Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), Malaria and Syphilis. She explained that donated blood must undergo screening to ensure that blood to be transfused to patients is safe.
Meanwhile, Tactay appealed to the Local Government Units (LGUs), other stakeholders and the people of the province to support the establishment of a blood bank at the Red Cross- Mountain Province Office.
