Estehanons donate blood amid COVID-19 crisis
BORONGAN CITY, April 18 (PIA) – In preparation for COVID-19, Estehanons donate blood.
This as the Eastern Samar Provincial Health Office (ESPHO) and the City Health Office (CHO) bloodletting activity collected some 69 bags of blood.
This was held on April 15-16, 2020 at the Sangguniang Panlalawigan lobby, this city.
Dr. Rodel Delgado, technical section chief said the bloodletting aims to supply the need for blood especially with the ongoing COVID-19 outbreak.
“We will continue with our mass blood donation activities, observing social distancing, and infection control measures,” Delgado said.
According to Ms. Aileen B. Gueverra, blood program coordinator of ESPHO, of the 69 blood bags collected, 20 bags were given to the Eastern Visayas Regional Medical Center (EVRMC) in Tacloban City.
When there are patients that are referred to EVRMC from ESPH, blood can be used by the patients from Eastern Samar who is in need, Guevarra added.
She further said that the other 49 blood bags will be placed at the ESPH Blood Station and will be used for any emergency especially for COVID-19 cases.
The blood donors were mostly uniformed personnel, PNP and Philippine Army (PA). Some individuals from provincial government employees, and city government employees also donated their blood.
Mr. Dennis Bagas, a donor from Brgy. Campesao said that this is the first time he donated blood.
“Donating blood especially with the COVID-19 pandemic, is very essential. I am happy that in a little way, I can save life,” Bagas said.
The doctors who served and screened the potential blood donors are: Dr. Daisy Sacmar, Dr. Alvin Bandoy, Dr. Marietta Sabate, Dr. Patricia Bernadette Apita, Dr. Zuchi M. Lim, together with frontliners such as the nurses and nursing attendant who assisted the bloodletting activity.
Republic Act No. 7719, also known as the National Blood Services Act of 1994, promotes voluntary blood donation to provide sufficient supply of safe blood and to regulate blood banks.
This Act aims to inculcate public awareness that blood donation is a humanitarian act.
Next week, the organizers will conduct a Community-based Mobile Blood Donation. (NBQ/SDC/PIA-E. Samar)
source https://pia.gov.ph/news/articles/1039274