I have witnessed bloodletting sessions, but not one surprised me more than that held Friday last week at the Gingoog City Comprehensive National High School.
The bloodletting we witnessed is an initiative of the Department of Education Region X -Northern Mindanao, called Dugong Guro, Dugong Bayani aimed at providing a platform for public school teachers in the region to save lives through voluntary blood donation that will cater to patients within and beyond the region. The program has enabled donation of blood to soldiers and civilians hit by the Marawi war and victims of disasters in the region.
But why were there soldiers, policemen and firemen lying in cots as blood was being taken from their arms at the Gingoog Dugong Guro, Dugong Bayani last Friday? This is the surprise: As some teachers either because of emergency situations or ailments disabling them from making blood donation, they asked their friends from the PNP and Bureau of Fire Protection to donate blood in their stead, and in turn have their own sense of fulfillment. At the end of the day, 23,850 ccs of blood were collected and brought to the Philippine Red Cross Gingoog City chapter’s blood center storage, samples of which were taken to “hubbing blood centers” – the Cagayan de Oro city or Butuan City Red Cross blood banks for processing for HIV-AIDS, Hepatitis B & C, malaria and syphilis. Results of the tests I surmise, have been emailed to the Gingoog chapter by now.
Last Friday’s and previous Dugong Guro bloodletting sessions were coordinated by the Philippine Red Cross Gingoog City chapter, headed by its very active administrator, Marilyn T. Abian. The day’s event was hosted by West II District, led by Leah L. Tacandong, public school district supervisor, and West III District, led by Catalina Ruben, PSDS. Co-hosts were Lorenz International Skills Training Academy and LISTA Alumni Association. Also attending to the donors’ needs were Dr. Joseph Triston Benedict and M. Rafols III of DepEd, and Jack M. Bigwil, Bureau of Fire inspector/superintendent. Ubiquitous were the Red Cross volunteers including students and “ordinary” citizens, as they called themselves.
Visibly impressed by last Friday’s event, PRC Gov. Saeed Daof visited the Gingoog Red Cross Chapter headquarters in the city’s suburbs, and was more impressed by the report of the chapter coordinator, Marilyn T. Abian. The chapter’s story is one of struggling, and making good, amidst obstacles, including fund lack.
Marilyn, who became connected with the chapter since 1984 starting as a volunteer, related the chapter’s programs and sources of revenue. “Pobre ang Gingoog, but during disasters, we have deployed manpower consisting of our staff and volunteers to help during the Marawi siege, the aftermath of Yolanda typhoon, the Bohol and Cebu earthquakes, among others.”
Every January and February, a one-stop shop is held, during which establishments secure permits to operate. Beginning in 1991 under the then Mayor Arturo Lugod, establishments pay an additional P5 to their regular fee, to go to the Red Cross.
The chapter’s annual blood service report of from January to December 2018, show that the number of blood units collected was targeted at 1,500 units, but the actual number happily collected was 1,592; blood collected distributed to the three hospitals in the city (Misamis Oriental Provincial Hospital, Gingoog Sanitarium Hospital and Lipunan Hospital) ,was 1,275 units. Wasted in the collected blood was 225 units. From the blood service, the chapter was estimated to earn P2,295,000, but it actually earned P2,452,400. That’s good work.
Already on the chapter’s menu is its coordinating of Dugong Guro, Dugong Bayani sessions held every week beginning September 27, in different school venues. In addition, it has a schedule of bloodletting and targets in all the city’s barangays of donors estimated at 131,737 individuals.
A source of revenue is the PRC membership fees of individuals. When schoolyear ends, public school teachers and students get a clearance from DepEd, and they are required to be members of the Red Cross. This, said Marilyn, has the approval of the DepEd. The teachers pay P150, and students, P60. Currently, 800 teachers and students (the number not yet available to us) are members who will enjoy benefits including P5,000 for medicine costs; P150 per day for hospital confinement, and P12,000 for their burial fees.
Two welcome fund-raising activities are the raffles during the city’s Charter Day in July, and in December, when employees receive their Christmas bonus.
Still another revenue source are the safety training seminars to train employees of business establishments in first aid and life saving procedures.
Marilyn gives credit to City Mayor Marie Guingona, who is the Gingoog Red Cross chapter chair, for authorizing the Local Government Unit’s giving of free blood to patients – provided they are from Gingoog. P2.5 million has been committed for this aid. The chapter releases the blood to patients, and bill the LGU for the service.
The chapter, though not deprived, has needs – a modern ambulance vehicle equipped with modern facilities – a requirement of the Department of Health – and a new building.
The chapter is a model for other chapters in self-sustenance and in getting donors and volunteers. Its information program is helped by the local broadcast media’s asking people to give blood to save lives. Marilyn goes around, asking donors for help. “The moment they see me, they say, ‘O, unsa naman pod pangayu-on nimo karon?” (What is it this time?). “But they give, anyway, and we’re glad they realize that we need blood so we can save lives.”
* * *
This is bad news –the House of Representatives’ passing the legalization of marijuana.
“Medical marijuana, once legalized by Congress, is bound to open the floodgates for recreational use of the highly addictive drug by Filipinos, Buhay Rep. Lito Atienza warned in a press statement.
“There’s no question medical marijuana will serve as the gateway for the widespread consumption of the mind-altering drug for fun and entertainment,” Atienza, the House senior deputy minority leader, said.
The bill legalizing medical marijuana passed by the House on third and final reading on January 29, would “create demand where there is none now,” Atienza, former three-term mayor of Manila, said.
“If we create demand through legalization, then supply will surely come in. So we will in effect be creating a whole new drug market where there is absolutely none now for medical marijuana,” Atienza said.
“We don’t need medical marijuana here because, apart from the fact that the drug’s purported therapeutic values are unproven, Filipino patients already have access to the most powerful narcotic analgesics when needed,” Atienza said.
“Terminally ill cancer patients for instance have ready access to morphine injections when prescribed by physicians specially licensed by the Dangerous Drugs Board,” Atienza said.
“As to children with complex neurodevelopmental conditions, they don’t need the hallucinations of marijuana. What they really need is the tender loving care of their parents and siblings,” Atienza said.
The Philippine Medical Association, the professional organization of Filipino physicians, has rejected the medical marijuana bill, saying “It is contrary to the policy of the State to safeguard the well-being of its citizenry.”
My email: dominitorrevillas@gmail.com