Baguio to conduct blood donation activities

June 12, 2021 Metro BLISTT

BAGUIO CITY – This city is hoping to boost its supply by conducting blood donation activities as part of the 123rd Philippine Independence Day and World Blood Donor’s Day.
Jenelyn Terre, donor recruitment officer of Red Cross-Baguio, on Wednesday said the series of blood donation activities will start on June 11 which is the quarterly partnership for blood donation with the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).
On June 12, there will be two venues for the blood donation activities — at the Peoples Park with members of the Philippine National Police
(PNP) and the walk-in donors; and at the Baguio Center mall.
Terre said that another blood donation event will be held on June 13 at the People’s Park while the June 14 event spearheaded by the Department of Health in the Cordillera Administrative Region (DOH-CAR) will be at the rooftop of the Porta Vaga mall.
“Our supply is struggling, kulang na kulang talaga (we really lack supplies),” she said.
She said there were days when hospitals in Region 1 provinces ask for blood but cannot be fully provided with the limited supply at the Red Cross blood bank.
Terre mentioned that about 10 to 15 clients needing different quantities of blood go to them daily.
“Araw-araw may nangangailangan ng dugo kaya as much as possible, may supply sana tayo (people needing blood come daily that is why as much as possible we should have supply),” she said.
Meanwhile, Vince Ingen, blood program coordinator of DOH-CAR, in a separate interview on Wednesday, said the World Health Organization (WHO) has declared June 14 of each year as World Blood Donors Day.
He said the commemoration will be marked with blood donation activity to be participated in by 60 Medical Technology student interns at the University of Baguio aside from members of the Project Hagiyo Organization, Youth Ministry of the Diocese of Baguio City.
He said the WHO has identified as a special focus for this year the role of the youth in ensuring a safe blood supply. Ingen said that based on the record, most of the blood donors are between ages 25 to 46, which makes the youth an important sector in helping save lives.
He urged the public to visit the different venues for their blood donation activities “if you feel that you are healthy and you can give the precious resource to save another life.”
(PNA)