CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga -- A total of 362 blood bags had been collected during the first of series of bloodletting activity conducted by the Provincial Blood Services and Advocacy Council (PDSAC) Thursday at the Bren Z. Guiao Convention Center in this city.
The activity dubbed as "Atiu keng Daya Tamu ing Sumawup. Give Blood. Save Lives. Be a Donor Today" was in line with the celebration of World Blood Donor Day spearheaded by the PBSAC chaired by Governor Lilia Pineda in coordination with the Angeles University Foundation Medical Center, Pampanga Medical Specialist Hospital and Sacred Heart Medical Center.
Pineda thanked every Kapampangan who participated in the said activity.
"We want to thank our donors and our partners including the Philippine National Police and Philippine Army for helping us fulfill the mission of the council to provide sufficient supply of blood in the province," said the governor.
The activity started with a motorcade participated in by the members of the PBSAC and other blood donors.
Board Member Crisostomo Garbo, concurrent president of PBSAC said the motorcade aims to raise awareness on the importance of voluntary blood donation in the province
"Ali tamu buri keti probinsya tamu na ating mate dahil keng blood loss. Kailangan atin tamung pane available daya para kareng ka probinsya tamu," Garbo said.
Provincial health officer Dr. Marcelo Jaochico said "the priority beneficiaries of this activity are the indigent Kapampangans who are suffering from leukemia, cancer, kidney diseases, dengue, undergoing dialysis, mothers giving birth and victims of accidents."
Meanwhile, Philippine Red Cross Pampanga-Angeles chapter administrator Augusto Ocampo disclosed the great need of blood in the province.
"Malaki ang demand ng dugo dito sa probinsya. Ang total target namin ay 200 to 300 bags a month pero kumukulang pa rin. With this activity, mapupunan natin 'yung kakulangan," Ocampo said. (Liezel Cayanan/Pampanga PIO)