Massive bloodletting activities organized by the Office of the Presidential Assistant for the Visayas (OPAV) and the Department of Health have resulted in the collection of a total of 321 bags of blood from various donors in Metro Cebu, a health official said on Tuesday.
In a message to reporters, Dr. Mary Jean Loreche, DOH-Central Visayas chief pathologist and spokesperson for coronavirus disease (Covid-19), said the continuous campaign dubbed as “Donate Blood, Save Lives, Be a Hero” is a response to the rising demand for blood in the region due to coronavirus disease (Covid-19) crisis.
She said Talisay City residents donated 10 bags of blood on Monday while those from Mandaue City gave at least 110 bags of blood last Sunday on top of another 30 bags from members of the police force.
A total of 171 bags were also collected from various donors on Thursday last week.
Another bloodletting activity is set on July 23-24 in the western Cebu town of Balamban.
Meanwhile, Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD-7) regional director Rebecca Geamala said the agency provided support to the bloodletting program by giving food packs to the donors.
The DSWD-7 distributed PHP159,193 worth of 399 food packs to those who joined mobile bloodletting activities.
Geamala thanked all the donors, saying donating blood is a heroic act considering that it is given to those who need them the most.
“These people, they are also in need, but they choose to give more by donating blood. The food packs we gave to them is nothing compared to what they shared. And we are all participating in helping one another,” she said in a statement.
The region’s bloodletting campaign is also aimed at augmenting the supply in the blood banks especially this rainy season when more dengue cases are reported.
The inter-agency donation drive also seeks to boost the Convalescent Plasma Therapy program, which has helped severe and critical Covid-19 patients to recover.
Presidential Assistant for the Visayas, Secretary Michael Lloyd Dino, has cited the need for adequate blood supply, noting the rise in Covid-19 cases in the region as well as the expected surge of dengue cases during the rainy months. (PNA)
