Friday, June 29, 2007 Court of Appeals-Mindanao donates blood By Attorney Marlon I. Yap
"SAVE Lives, Give Blood" is the battle cry of the Philippine National Red Cross (PNRC). Fortunately, nobody has to actually spill blood and gore to save another's life nowadays.
Lie back, relax and let the PNRC do the rest. End result? A healthier body for the blood donor and a life saved for the beneficiary.
Responding to the call for the third time, the Court of Appeals-Mindanao Station CA-Mindanao) gathered its ranks last Wednesday to donate blood as part of its post Independence Day celebration.
The first time being the bloodletting event held on September 20, 2006 in dvance celebration of CA-Mindanao's 2nd anniversary wherein 16 employees donated blood.
And the second time was held on February 13, 2007 to celebrate Valentines Day, which had a turnout of 15 employees.
This time, once again, many responded. But like before, the very strict rules of the Medical Team on who may qualify dwindled their number to an even lower figure of 10.
Even volunteer justices were previously disqualified. One due to travel abroad, the other due to weight and yet another was disqualified due to her age.
Nevertheless, the PNRC has now collected approximately 18,450 cc of blood from employees of the CA-Mindanao since September last year.
Lawyer Felwina Opiso was among the first to qualify. "My mother once underwent an operation and she desperately needed blood," Opiso said.
"Thankfully, blood was available then, hence, the success of the operation. Now I am happily donating blood to return the favor to the PNRC," Opiso added.
Absolute confidentiality
Lawyer Calixto Aquino was among those who donated blood for the campaign.
He said he was not disappointed because after giving blood, he "felt happiness that can only stem from doing an altruistic act which money cannot buy."
"I am amazed by the fact that I can actually save lives with just one cup of my blood," second timer Marivi Convocar said. She then added that what really moved her is the ugly truth that there is a desperate need for blood.
However, blood donation does not only benefit the donees. Blood donors get a free personal health check from the PNRC Medical Team.
This means the blood type, hemoglobin, and blood pressure of potential donors are examined after drawing blood from the donor-to-be.
On top of that, the blood is tested further, thus, allowing a potential donor to know if he suffers from any ailment that needs immediate medical attention.
The tests they perform for free could easily reach thousands of pesos if conducted by a private institution. Moreover, the results of the blood testing are kept in absolute confidentiality.
"In addition, donating blood stimulates the bone marrow to produce new cells and active cells which in turn make blood forming organs function more effectively, thus, reducing the viscosity of the blood. This, in turn, lowers blood pressure and the risk of heart attack," said Dr. Myra Yee, PNRC's Mindanao Regional Blood Center (MRBC) Physician In Charge (PIC).
Brainchild
Dr. Yee forewarned that not everybody can qualify to donate blood anytime.
Obstacles such as age, weight, ailment, condition of one's health at the time, recent exposure to health risks, environment and others may prevent one from qualifying at a given period.
This explains why some of the would-be-donor/employees were unfortunately disqualified.
Hospital statistics show that blood is needed everyday by people suffering from anemia, leukemia, hemophilia, those who will undergo surgery and those who will deliver a baby.
"Two thousand donors are needed everyday. Can you be one of them?" Dr. Yee asked.
Many people actually die due to lack of supplies in the blood bank and one of these persons could be you or someone close to your heart. "Christ shed his blood for us, we should give blood in return," she said.
Justice Edgardo Camello of the CA-Mindanao Station advised that while we are still strong, we should give back what the almighty has given us.
"Di naman atin itong katawan (we do not own our body) we should participate in his grand design", he said.
The bi-annual bloodletting event is the brainchild of Executive Justice Teresita Dy-Liacco Flores. "Exert extra effort to keep yourselves healthy and qualified," Flores said as she called on employees in order to make the next bloodletting event even more successful.
