BONTOC, Mountain Province – A total of 18,900cc of blood or 42 bags from the 42 donors have been collected during the blood-letting activity on June 14, 2023, at the Bontoc Municipal Capitol Auditorium.
These include six units of Type AB, eight units of Type A, 20 units of Type B, and eight units of Type O which were turned over to the Philippine Red Cross (PRC)-Mountain Province Chapter.
The activity was conducted by the Bontoc Local Government Unit (LGU) through the Municipal Health Office (MHO) in collaboration with the PRC-Mountain Province Chapter and Mountain Province Blood Donation Network. This is in line with the celebration of World Blood Donor Day with the theme “Give Blood, Give Plasma, Share Life, Share Often.”
Medical Technologist II Cecilia Stella Matiw of the MHO mentioned that four donors were deferred due to Quality Not Sufficient (QNS), low hemoglobin, and Valvular Heart Disease.
In his message, Bontoc Mayor Jerome “Chagsen” Tudlong, Jr., expressed his profound gratitude to the blood donors as well as the personnel from MHO, PRC-Mountain Province Chapter, and Mountain Province Blood Donation Network for their contribution to the noble cause.
“Maintaining a regular supply of blood in our facilities is essential to ensure that safe and adequate blood supply is readily available for those who may need it. Thus, I thank all the volunteers who have unselfishly donated their blood to help save a life,” he added.
Municipal Health Officer Dr. Diga Gomez joined Mayor Tudlong in extending her utmost gratitude to the workforce during the said activity. She expressed high hopes that similar activities will be conducted to sustain the demands of blood in the municipality.
Florita Sacgaca, Red Cross Donor Recruitment and Selection Officer stated that the blood collected from the activity will be primarily used for patients undergoing dialysis or major surgeries, as well as other medical emergencies, particularly cases of chronic kidney disease, which are currently on the rise.
Further, Sacgaca mentioned that the collected units of blood will be screened for bloodborne diseases such as Hepatitis, Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), Malaria, and others.
Other officials present during the activity are Provincial Blood Service Program Network Coordinator Nestor Gao-an, Vice Mayor Eusebio Kabluyen, and Sangguniang Bayan member Timothy Pongad, Jr. By Shannon Anthea S. Pagaduan & Alpine L. Killa- Malwagay
