TOPNOTCHER. Officials of the Mariano Marcos Memorial Hospital and Medical Center awards the certificate of recognition to a representative of the municipality of San Nicolas, Ilocos Norte on Friday (June 14, 2024) after the local government registered the most number of blood donors in the province in 2023. The recognition day was held a day before World Blood Donor Day. (Photo courtesy of Ryan Rollaine Simon
LAOAG CITY – The year-round donation activities in Ilocos Norte has assured adequate blood supply in state-run Mariano Marcos Memorial Hospital and Medical Center (MMMH&MC) in Batac City.
“The blood stock level is above minimum,” Dr. Modesty Leaño, head of the MMMH&MC pathology department, told the Philippine News Agency on Friday.
In time for the World Blood Donor Day, celebrated every June 14, MMMH&MC awarded outstanding volunteers who donate blood to help increase the availability of supply in the region.
The local government unit of San Nicolas topped the list after encouraging 814 volunteers, whose donations benefited 568 patients in 2023.
Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office officer Ryan Rollaine Simon said in an interview that bloodletting in the municipality was institutionalized in 2004, encouraging all villages to participate quarterly.
The latest bloodletting was held Thursday with 72 bags containing 450cc each collected.
“Since the program has been institutionalized in the municipality, we have observed a growing number of blood donors. The tricycle drivers, local government employees, the 4Ps (Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program) beneficiaries as well as barangay officials and uniformed personnel are constant joiners of the program,” he said.
Simon is also among the 12 blood gallopers awardees of the town.
In previous years, the municipality has been a consistent awardee for its commemorative performance, commitment and active involvement in the promotion of voluntarily blood donation.
In Ilocos Norte, the National Voluntary Blood Services Program continuously intensifies its mobile blood donation drives to ensure enough supply in hospitals.
The Department of Health (DOH) is targeting to have one percent of the region's population in its blood donation drive to help boost supply in government hospitals.
It spearheads the conduct of the National Blood Donor Month in June when diseases like dengue and others that need blood transfusion are prevalent.
Dr. Maria Lourdes Otayza, MMMHMC chief, said in a statement that the hospital also wants to ensure blood availability in nearby provinces Ilocos Sur, Cagayan and Apayao. (PNA)
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