Blood donation is good for your health: DOH

Blood donation is good for your health: DOH

BLOOD is an important fluid in regulating the body's systems like delivering essential substances like oxygen and nutrients to the body's cells and transport waste products away from the lungs, kidneys, and the digestive system, the health department said.

In the Philippines, the Philippine Red Cross estimated that more than 2,000 blood units are being transfused to patients all over the country every day.

The Philippine National Red Cross and the National Voluntary Blood Services Program (NVBSP) have been campaigning year-round for blood donation.

Dr. Mary Jean Loreche, chief pathologist of the DOH Central Visayas, in a virtual presser on July 8, 2020, said since the start of the coronavirus pandemic, blood donation campaigns have been put on hold.

Loreche said this led to a dent in the supply of blood at the sub-national blood center in Central Visayas.

"Naghangyo lang mi sa mga tao nga dili mahadlok ug hatag ug dugo (We are appealing to the public not to be afraid to donate blood at this time)," said Loreche.

DOH-Central Visayas partnered with the Office of the Presidential Assistant, Department of Social Welfare and Development, Philippine National Police, Armed Forces of the Philippines, Department of Trade and Industry, and the Department of Labor for their "Donate Blood, Save Lives" campaign.

She explained that aside from saving lives when donating blood, the procedure is also giving benefits to the donors.

"When you donate blood, the body resistance improves, the circulation improves, and the donor feels healthier than before," Loreche added.



According to NVBSP, actual blood extraction takes five to 10 minutes, but the entire donation process, from registration to post-donation, takes about one hour.

When a donor donates blood, approximately one pint or 450 to 500 milliliters is collected. For a platelet donation, the amount collected depends on the donor's height, weight, and platelet count if collected through Apheresis or about 50 to 70 milliliters for random donor platelet concentrate.

After donating blood, the volume of fluids will adjust within a few hours from the donation. The red blood cells will be replaced within a few weeks, while platelets and plasma replenished more quickly.

The DOH, however, warned that individuals who have the following conditions are not allowed to donate blood: cancer, cardiac disease, severe lung disease, Hepatitis B and C, HIV infection, Aids, STD, unexplained weight loss of more than 5 kg over six months, and chronic alcoholism. (MVG)

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