Donation drives initiated by local government units keep blood supply in Antique stable, according to the Philippine Red Cross (PRC) in the province.

PRC-Antique’s donor recruitment officer Emmanuel Ecraela Jr. said in an interview on Friday that they have monthly blood donation activities.

“Only last June 14 during the World Blood Donor Day celebration, we were able to collect 4,746 milliliters (ml) of blood from 82 donors in Sibalom,” Ecraela said.

The donation drive conducted on June 15 in the municipality Tobias Fornier generated 3,534ml of blood from 63 donors.

He said the Sibalom LGU provides incentives to donors such as rice and certificate of recognition so they will be enticed to participate.

“Barangays that top in the number of blood donation activities conducted are also being given prizes in the form of infrastructure projects by the Sibalom LGU,” Ecraela said.

Donors also get a donation card that they can use in case they will need blood supply.

“Most of the blood being requested is for patients undergoing dialysis, maternal delivery, and for surgical operation,” he said, adding that the most-requested are types O and B.

Every month, PRC releases 500 units or the equivalent of 250,000 ml of blood.

“The PRC-Antique is categorized as a blood collecting unit and so before we could release the blood to the patient after it is first tested at the PRC Blood Bank in Iloilo City,” Ecraela said. (PNA)