Youth encouraged to donate blood on World Blood Donor Day

June 25, 2019 Metro BLISTT

BAGUIO CITY – The region’s Department of Health (DOH-CAR) celebrated the 1st Youth Blood Olympics at the Benguet Electric Cooperative (BENECO) main office in South Drive this city on Wednesday, June 19, 2019 in line with the World Blood Donor Day themed “Safe Blood for All,” in partnership with the Philippine Red Cross(PRC).
The event aimed at encouraging the youth to take part in bloodletting, as they comprise the most number in terms of population.
“The universities actually honor our voluntary donors and at the same time, encourage the youth to be potential as non-numerated blood donors.
Why the youth? Kasi sila yung biggest population, sila healthy, at walang sakit so sila yung ineencourage namin na maging regular donors,” Senior Health Program officer Jennifer Valenzuela said.
Valenzuela added that the event would have not been possible without the help of their partners, namely the Baguio General Hospital; Pines City College; Saint Louis Hospital; University of the
Cordilleras; and the Baguio Medical Center.
She also said that it is very important to donate blood regularly due to its benefits. “Pwede nilang i-check timely yung levels of hemoglabin, kung anemic ka ba o hindi, after that, after macollect yung blood ite-test nila yan sa different sexual transmission kasama dyan yung Syphilis, HIV, Malaria at iba pa.
Kapag positive tatawagan sila para mabigyan ng advice kung paano ite-test yung sakit mo pero pag negative naman okay na,” BGH Pathology resident doctor Bustria said in an interview.
Meanwhile, a student of the University of the Cordilleras College of Nursing said, “It was very flattering to be part of this event cause we know that our blood will reach to anyone who needs it.
The “karayom” (needle) is not “masakit” (painful), if you know, it will be worth it.”
PRC ensures that all blood donated that are tested negative against sexually transmitted diseases and other illnesses will be distributed equally to all hospitals in Baguio and Benguet.

Charisse Anne Miranda, UC Intern/ABN