ARMM health dept calls on region's employees to donate bloodCOTABATO CITY, Feb. 25 (PNA) -- The Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao's Health Secretary Dr. Kadil Sinolinding Jr. on Saturday urged the region's employees to donate blood to boost ARMM's blood supply.
"More donors mean sufficient supply of safe blood to meet demands in emergency cases within the Cotabato-Maguindanao area," Sinolinding said.
To qualify as a blood donor, one must at least weigh 50 kg., must have a normal blood pressure, and should pass the hemoglobin test and physical check-up.
He said donating blood reduces one's risk of hemochromatosis, a health condition caused by excess absorption of iron by the body due to drinking alcohol or anemia; prevents cancer as the iron stores in the body are maintained at healthy levels; leads to a healthier heart and liver; results in weight loss as one loses about 650 calories by donating; and generates new and healthy blood cells.
Sinolinding's appeal came after the National Voluntary Blood Services Program (NVBSP-ARMM) launched on Friday the first of its four blood-letting activities this year at ARMM's Department of Health (DOH-ARMM).
Blood-letting is a fundamental reason for the creation of the NVBSP through Republic Act 7719, or the National Blood Services Act of 1994, that promotes voluntary blood donation for a sufficient supply of safe blood.
Baibon Piang, NVBSP support staff, said the volunteer team running the activity consists of DOH-ARMM officers, as well as medical technologists, nurses, and doctors from the Cotabato Regional and Medical Center (CRMC).
The NVBSP caters to an average of 50 blood donors a day. The maximum amount of blood a person can donate every three months, or depending upon the physician’s advice, is 450 ml.
Piang said families of patients in need of blood can go to the DOH-ARMM office and seek assistance from the NVBSP team. They however need to have a blood request from their doctor and that the blood would be replenished immediately through another donor coming from a member of the requesting family.
All the blood collected in the quarterly activity will go to the CRMC Blood Center.
“Those who need blood can have it, provided they have authorization from DOH," said Anthony Francis de Dios of the CRMC Blood Center.
“So long as we have a steady supply of blood and more blood donors, we can release supplies to those in need."
Clients served by CRMC Blood Center are mostly from Cotabato City, Maguindanao, and South and North Cotabato. (PNA)
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