TABUK CITY, Kalinga – Around 90 bags of blood were collected during the bloodletting activity on Thursday, June 20, held at the People’s Gymnasium, as part of the activities lined up for Matagoan Festival 2024.
This was the first-ever bloodletting activity held for the Matagoan Festival. It was conducted by the City Health and Services Office (CHSO) in partnership with Cagayan Valley Eagles Club CVR XII.
Mary Labbutan, medical technologist at the CHSO, reported that hundreds of city scholars and other volunteers came to donate, but some donors were deferred due to factors such as low hemoglobin, menstruation, weight below 50 kilograms, and high blood pressure.
Labbutan mentioned that the collected blood will undergo screening at the Cagayan Valley Medical Center (CVMC) and will be stored at the CHSO blood bank.
Regarding the cost of blood screening, Labbutan stated that 35 percent of the blood collected will be given to CVMC to cover the expenses.
She added that anyone in need of blood can request from the CHSO free of charge. However, she said recipients must present two donor cards for one bag of blood, and if they do not have cards, they can later bring in two blood donors to replace the blood used.
Labbutan explained that blood has a shelf life of 42 days from the date of collection. To ensure a steady blood supply, she said the CHSO has been conducting weekly bloodletting activities in the different barangays of the city. By Rod Asurin