CLARK FREEPORT -- Officials of the Department of Health (DOH) have encouraged people to participate in the agency’s blood donation program.

Dr. Christine Salon, medical officer 4 of the Regional Voluntary Blood Service Program and medical technologist Maria Vivian Mallari of the DOH in Central Luzon, relayed this message during a media forum hosted by the Pampanga Press Club at Park Inn By Radisson Clark dubbed News at Hues on Tuesday, July 16.

“We would like to enjoin everyone, actually ang gusto kong i-leave na message ay ‘yung current theme ng ating National Blood Donors Month which is this July which is save blood for all,” Salon said.

The DOH recognizes the effort of the blood donors they brand as unsung heroes, according to Salon.

“Volunteerism po, ibig sabihin syempre we know that volunteers are not paid not because they are worthless but because they are priceless. We are recognizing their efforts because they are priceless,” Salon said.

July has been designated National Blood Donor’s Month pursuant to Presidential Proclamation Number 1021 dated July 9, 1997 and the Implementing Rules and Regulations of the National Blood Service Act of 1994.

The observance aims to build public awareness of the need for quality and safe blood, honor and recognize blood donors, and encourage regular blood donation.

Salon said they are intensifying the campaign in order to ensure the adequacy of blood supply in the entire Central Luzon region.

She said that personnel of government agencies in the region are enjoined to support the program.

“We are happy to say that out of the 40 national government agencies in the region, 17 already joined and we already have conducted two mobile donation activities for all the agencies which was held last April, three days po yon and then the next one concluded last June,” Salon said.

The medical officer said they have set another blood donation activity on September 9 to 11 at the Regional Blood Center of the DOH Region 3 at Diosdado Macapagal Government Center in Maimpis City of San Fernando.

“This was done because we would like to enjoin everyone pursuant to Department Circular 2018-0324 which is a worldwide commitment na kasama po tayo as the Philippines with WHO to ensure that we have voluntary blood donor sources by 2020 so malapit na po yun,” she said.

Salon said they are set to implement a Blood Olympics Program.

“Basically contest po siya pero dahil we are looking for voluntary donors, wala siyang cash price but there is the recognition that people from the government are the first ones to help enact this kind of endeavor and advocacy.”