CEBU CITY, CEBU — Through a coordinated donation drive, a non-profit organization held a bloodletting activity yesterday, an initiative that traces back to the grassroots and supports the national program dubbed “Hearty, Healthy, Philippines.”
Led by JCI Cebu Lakan Bahaghari, and in partnership with The Freeman and other agencies, the blood donation drive under its health program initiative, Dugong Lakan: Year 2, was held yesterday, Feb. 28, at Ayala Malls Central Bloc.
The event is part of the organization’s commitment to serving the community through initiatives that make a difference, in line with the observance of World NGO Day. During the event, 50 units of blood were collected from 100 volunteers who passed the screening conducted by the Philippine Red Cross.
This also aligns with the organization’s mission as a non-government, non-profit group that supports communities through health programs, cultural preservation, sports, and more.
The Bureau of Fire Protection is one of the partners and donors during the DUGONG LAKAN: Year 2 Blood Donation Drive led by JCI Cebu Lakan Bahaghari.
JCI Cebu Lakan Bahaghari Director for National Projects Kenneth John S. Sanjorjo said the initiative is just the start of their health campaign. Another blood donation drive is expected in April to accommodate more donors and extend help further.
Sanjorjo, who is also from the health sector, noted that not all collected blood will be available for donation after thorough screening.
“We know man gud na, even we reached our target [donors] of a certain units of blood, not that significant number of blood man gud would still be goes to the hospital facility,” Sanjorjo said, adding that all blood units will still undergo screening before being donated to partner hospitals.
“We are expanding [another donation drive] a part 2, maybe during the Day of Valor [in April],” he added.
National Chairperson of JCI Philippines for the health program, June Patrick V. Bertolano, also said that as the initiative adapts the national program, it shall first focus on members, stressing that care should start from within before serving the community.
While Phase 1 starts within the members, Phase 2 expands to programs on health and lifestyle.
“As a doctor [my advise] is it is good that you move [body] 30 minutes daily, [like] walking, because it helps us [avoiding] heart diseases, metabolic problems… as long we prioritize ourselves, it starts within us,” Bertolano said.
“We are the models for active lifestyle and afterward we can now influence others as well how our community projects come,” he added.
The organization is also planning another project under the “Hearty, Healthy, Philippines” program to raise awareness on “Virtual Autism,” a condition said to be caused by prolonged screen time and excessive gadget use.
Digital parenting talks will be conducted to guide families and promote mental health, complementing the organization’s physical health initiatives.
Bertolano also emphasized the importance of donating blood, its benefits, and supporting the call of the health sector for blood donations.
“Donating blood term over rate is 120 days or 3 months, so when you donate blood it cleanses your body, narereplenish yung blood natin,” Bertolano said.
“Donating blood has a lot of benefits such as cleansing, detox, and at the same time it saves lives. Kasi syempre yun nga kailangan natin mapuno ang target at least 1 % ng community na taget ng DOH,” he also addd.
A representative from the Philippine Red Cross added that some donors may be deferred or rejected during screening, but each successful donor can provide a bag of blood that can help support at least three individuals.
According to the Department of Health (DOH) Philippines and the Philippine Red Cross (PRC), the country requires over 2,000 blood units daily to meet the needs of patients requiring emergency surgeries, childbirth, cancer treatments, and accident care.
Aside from The Freeman newspaper, the blood donation drive was held in partnership with other government and non-government organizations, including the Philippine Red Cross, Bureau of Fire Protection Region 7, Philippine National Police Region 7, JJC, Sidlaya, and SK Brgy. Basak San Nicolas.
| Written by Andrew Matthew Ortoño / IHM
