Philippines finally collects 1 million units of blood

MANILA, Philippines — More than two decades after the National Blood Service Act of 1994 was passed, the Philippines has finally realized its goal of collecting one million units of blood, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said yesterday.

The country’s goal of collecting one percent, or one million units of blood from the total population was met after 1,120,408 blood units were gathered as of December 2017.

“We are immensely grateful to the blood donors for their voluntary and sincere effort to be of help to those in need. They truly are heroes in the lives of our recipients,” Duque said at a joint press conference of the Department of Health (DOH) and Philippine Red Cross (PRC).

Under the law, the DOH has closed down all commercial blood banks in the country and promoted voluntary blood donation.

The Philippines yesterday observed World Blood Donor Day with the local theme Dugong Bigay, Dugtong Buhay to encourage the public to continuously donate blood to maintain a safe and adequate supply of this vital fluid.

According to Sen. Richard Gordon, PRC chairman, the agency will not let its guard down now that the country has met its blood collection targets.

He has also given assurance the PRC, with the help primarily of donors, is aiming to surpass last year’s blood collection.

The PRC organizes mass blood donation activities every day to have adequate supply of blood, especially in times of mass casualty incidents, disasters and other emergencies. 

“That’s why we are immensely encouraging the public to donate blood regularly, a simple and painless process that can save precious lives,” Gordon said.