DOH asks Pinoys: Donate more blood

MANILA, Philippines - More Filipinos should volunteer to donate blood as the Department of Health (DOH) fell short of its target of one million bags of blood last year, an official said yesterday.

Health Secretary Paulyn Ubial said the DOH collected only some 920,000 blood bags in 2016, 800,000 short of the global target of having one percent of the country’s total population as voluntary blood donors.

Ubial, who donates blood twice a year, urged the public to donate their blood voluntarily. She is hopeful that with a scaled-up information campaign, the DOH will be able to meet the target this year.

“There are many benefits when you donate blood but what we want to promote is the principle of altruism or when you voluntarily or selflessly help others. It is better to become a blood donor than a blood recipient so donate blood now,” she said.

The health chief noted that since the blood in the body of blood donors are replaced by new blood, their agility is enhanced.

“New blood is circulating in your body on a regular basis when you donate. It is important, especially among men, because they do not menstruate. It would be a good practice for you if your old blood cells are replaced by new blood cells,” she said.

Ubial said the DOH strictly screens the blood that it collects for HIV, Hepatitis B and C and mosquito-borne diseases, among others.