Blood center strengthens voluntary blood donation

CEBU, Philippines -  With the abolition of private blood banks, health authorities are strengthening campaign for voluntary blood donation by fortifying partnerships with government and private institutions serving as channels towards achieving enough storage at the regional blood center.

According to Central Visayas Regional Blood Center head Dr. Reynette Christine Ligaray, they are encouraging participation of partners by explaining to them the importance of voluntary blood donation.

The Department of Health blood center is located at Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center.

In order to acknowledge and highlight the participation of individuals and groups, an annual awarding of top participating partners is being held.

She continued that issuance of blood donation card is no longer adopted by DOH since this opens the possibility of being used for commercial purposes.

She, however, clarified that their partner Philippine Red Cross continues to issue cards but strictly for the purpose of donation recording.

Furthermore, identified partners of the blood center taking part in ensuring that there is enough blood supply are likewise recognized by giving awards.

The awarding is divided into two categories: LGU and private partners, each given gold, silver and bronze awards.

Gold is given to those institutions with total annual collection of  200 units with no collection less than 20 units.

Moreover, Silver award is for those with total annual collection that reached 100 units but less than 200 with no mobile blood donation collection less than 20 units.

For those with total annual collection of more than 50 units but less than 100 with no collection of less than 20 units, they will be given bronze award.

The year 2013 did not have a gold awardee for LGU category but private institutions awarded included Southwestern University, University of San Jose-Recoletos, Cebu Mitsumi Incorporated-Danao City, University of Southern Philippines Foundation, Cebu Technological University Carmen Campus.

Among the 2013 silver awardees for LGU category are Tudela in Camotes, Minglanilla, Borbon, Bogo City, Carcar City, Poro in Camotes, Lapu-Lapu City.

Private partners with silver award are Tsuneishi Heavy Industries Cebu Inc. Balamban, Sunpride Foods Inc., Cebu Technological University Danao Campus, Cebu Normal University Medellin Campus with Municipality of Medellin, Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Cebu City Department of Manpower Development and Placement, University of San Carlos Talamban Campus, High-End Fashion Jewelry Production Philippines.

Bronze awardees for LGUS include San Fernando, Sibonga, San Francisco in Camotes, Alegria, and Sogod while private partners include CTU Argao Campus, University of Cebu Lapu-Lapu and Mandaue, Naval Forces Central 7, CTU Moalboal Campus, Metaphil International Inc. Ba-lamban, Philippine Long Distance Telephone Jones.

Republic Act No. 7719 otherwise known as the National Blood Services Act of 1994, promoting vo-luntary blood donation as a humanitarian act paved the way for the creation of National Voluntary Blood Services Program of the DOH.  (FREEMAN)