THE Philippine Red Cross-Baguio City will celebrate World Blood Donor Day Saturday at the Malcolm Square with focus on the need for timely access to safe blood and blood products in the prevention of maternal deaths.
The theme of this year's celebration is "Safe Blood for Saving Mothers" with the slogan "Give blood for those who give like".
Annie Tamayo, chapter administrator, said that they are again asking the help of volunteers to come and donate blood.
"We need constant supply of blood for the big number of clients we are serving, especially we are focusing on mothers who are giving birth," Tamayo said.
Severe bleeding during delivery and after childbirth is a major cause of mortality, morbidity and long-term disability. The goal of the campaign is to increase awareness about why timely access to safe blood and blood products is essential as part of a comprehensive approach to prevent maternal deaths, Tamayo said.
She again clarified PRC does not sell blood; what is being charged are the processing and laboratory fee in screening the blood.Based on the Red Cross guidelines on donating blood, anybody 18 to 65 years old, with clean bill of health and weighs at least 110 lbs or 50 kilos can donate blood. It only takes ten minutes for a person to donate 450 cc of blood.
Donors are advised to honestly fill out a blood donation questionnaire, which includes direct questions about behaviors known to carry a higher risk of blood-borne infection. (Joseph Zambrano)