Monday, July 02, 2007 'People don’t want us to close' By Jujemay G. Awit Sun.Star Staff Reporter
AT 70, this doctor can still fight.
Dr. Jovita Anoos-Ceniza fought for the Regional Blood Coordinating Council (RBCC). But after 17 years, it seemed like there was no way the blood bank could survive.
She contemplated closing it until a compromise was reached with the Department of Health (DOH) that will see RBCC operating as a blood collecting unit (BCU), rather than a blood bank.
Ceniza, who sat as president and chairman of the RBCC for close to 10 years, is contemplating on handing over the reins to her executive assistant. But she will still oversee and visit the office from time to time.
Sun.Star Cebu met with Ceniza, who is also an obstetrician-gynecologist, to talk about what inspired her to give up her private practice for the RBCC foundation.
How did the RBCC start?
I was having my residency at Southern Islands (now Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center) then. On one tour of duty, I attended to a woman who was brought by a taxi. She was unknown to us and she was alone.
She bled while vending fish in Barangay Alaska-Mambaling and passed out because of an abnormal pregnancy. I tried my best to really help the patient, giving her everything that I could give. Up to her last breath, she was asking me to help her saying, “Doc, lima akong anak, akong bana walay trabaho, wa pa silay pamahaw ron doc, mopauli pa ko magdala’g sobrang isda ug pagkaon (I have five children, my husband is jobless and they haven’t had breakfast today yet. I need to go home to bring them some fish).”
Finally, she expired because we couldn’t find any blood for her.
That moment prompted me to commit that I should do something, that blood should be available at all times and that no repeat of the incident should come. I would have been happy if we could have extended the life of that mother so she could serve her children.
Then I went into practice and after almost 30 years, the first concern for blood initiated by the government was organized. Civic-minded people were recruited, doctors and concerned citizens, and I was the first one called up. So we bonded ourselves. Congresswoman Nerissa Soon-Ruiz was there. I was the one speaking to the public and campaigning for donors.
How were you tapped to head the RBCC?
A German national approached me (saying) they will not help us anymore if I will not assume as president and that they will not be giving donations anymore so I was forced to accept. Then I became the president.
Later, we (DOH and RBCC) signed a memorandum of agreement that we will do a voluntary blood donation campaign. So it went and the demand for blood was really high.
Seventeen years from the time we started, I strengthened the program. We did a lot of advocacy and we established our programs on blood. Our production was good and we were helping the community. Blood availability was no longer a problem.
Then the RBC (Regional Blood Center) came into the picture.
When did you start to think that you cannot sustain this anymore?
Just two or three months ago because it’s like this, Maternity (the Cebu Puericulture Center and Maternity House) used to use our facilities to gather blood for their package deal. Then Chong Hua (Hospital), about six months ago, they started to gather blood by themselves and the patients were encouraged to buy blood from their laboratory. So Maternity and Chong Hua were out and then Cebu City hospitals conducted their own blood letting so wala na sila (they no longer came to us).
Then finally, about two months ago, Vicente Sotto went into a socialized type of giving blood where blood was given free. So with that, patay na mi (we were finished). Nobody will come to us because they are paying a recovery cost. We went into zero releases. If you are running a blood bank, you are really going to get scared where to get the money. So we were pushed to the wall.
So I announced that maybe we might have to close. We were never assisted with money from the government since, but we were able to survive because the money was there available at all times.
How do you operate without funds from the government?
We are a nongovernment organization, actually trying to execute what government wants to do under the National Voluntary Blood Services Act. It’s like this, we get donations then we encourage cost-recovery. The blood is processed here, screened and tested. We get the costing of the actual expenses from the screening of blood, collection, everything, which amounts to P889. I rounded it up to P1,200 because that is where I would get the cost for operations in the blood bank (like) salaries, gasoline, overhead, everything.
But the allowable (amount) by government is actually P1,500. We stayed at 1,200 since and then it went because at that time Chong Hua, Maternity, Southern Island, they were all getting blood from us.
What was the reaction of your staff when you initially thought of closing the RBCC?
They did not sort of understand. I think they were already angry at me because I was already very kulit (persistent). I was already following up their expenses, which I was not doing before when things were going smoothly. Anyway, later on they understood that we did not have a fallback anymore. I was really happy because the people were against me for the closure. I am really happy now I know that what I was doing is really good because the public don’t want us to be closed.
And then they (DOH) came in and said we cannot close.
So DOH proposed to centralize blood distribution?
This was already (a previous) plan na there will be no more private blood banks, that they are going to centralize the screening of blood, one in Manila, one in Cebu and one in Mindanao. I wonder if that will work because we are 7,100 islands.
Well, anyway, that was the term. I don’t mind being called any name (BCU) as long as it can do the job. They are going to cover the 26,000 cardholders if they will. The problem is they will be up to 5 o’ clock (only). After 5 o’clock what will they do?
When will you get the license as a BCU?
I don’t know. I said, “You (DOH) process the papers because you are the one asking as to become a BCU.” We did not apply to be a BCU. Basta starting July 1, we can no longer release blood. Wala na. But I said I will not give up. The owner of this blood bank is still the RBCC foundation.
How do you feel about the issue reaching the ombudsman, after two of your members (in their personal capacity) asked for help?
It was for clarification. In fairness, I did not have anything to do with it. They acted on their own. But it is good, at least may point of clarification.
How do you see this foundation in five years?
I don’t want to comment because if I do, they might blame me.
What are the changes you will employ when you become a BCU?
Well, si Roger (Mariano Jr., the current executive assistant to the president), I appointed him manager, he will be working for the foundation. They (RBC) are going to absorb three of my licensed medical technologists and I will keep the two underboard med techs and a nurse. Mobiya nako sa blood bank, kapoy na baya. (I will excuse myself from the blood bank.)
How does your family feel about your passion for the foundation?
My husband (former Provincial Board Member Ramon Ceniza) is here along with one son. Four of my children are in the States, one is in Iligan. I am actually dedicating this (to them) because my children are very nice. Siyempre you would do something. You cannot just be receiving blessings without giving back. It has to be shared.
What do you do for a pasttime?
I don’t have a pasttime, my time is really for the cause of the poor. There are many things you can do here (RBCC) and of course attending to our little family concerns.
What is your normal day like?
I wake up at 4:30 in the morning, that is my prayer time. Then I commune with nature, I go to my garden. Then I take breakfast, prepare and then come here (RBCC). I have pledged that I’m going to use whatever lifetime I have for the cause of the poor in whatever capacity.
What is the satisfaction you get from your job?
I know that my poor patients will be getting their blood, nobody will die na, then I’m doing the will of God. That’s what He wants me to do.
When was the last time you donated your blood?
A long time ago, because blood donation is only up to 65, and I’m 70 na man.
