The Iloilo Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office (PSWDO) under the headship of Sarah M. Barayuga will be conducting its first ever blood donation activity with the officers and members of the Provincial Federation Association of Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) as donors. It will be conducted on February 12, 2022 at the Provincial Capitol lobby from 8 a.m. onwards. The activity, which is in partnership with the Philippine Red Cross Iloilo Chapter is themed, "Pagpalangga sa Tion sang Pandemya: Kasablagan sa Lawas, Hindi Upang Agod Kabuhi sang Iban Maluwas." It is the PWDs’ way of giving love to those in dire need of blood especially this month of February.
PSWDO PWD Focal Person Rara Ganzon said they target 100 donors to participate in the event.Around 75 donors have already committed to join the activity. The province tapped the municipalities to provide transportation to the PWDs. Ganzon added that Iloilo is the first province in the country to conduct a blood donation activity featuring PWDs, as confirmed by the National Council on Disability Affairs. PSWDO registered a total of 10,300 PWDs in the entire province.
Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr. said the blood donation activity is just among the programs of the province to address the practical problem on lack of donors. “This is very important in our healthcare system. Not only this Saturday, but this year we have a program to implement to improve our sources, especially our donors,” he said.
Philippine Red Cross’ Dr. Catherine Javellana thanked the provincial government for the initiative as it will replenish their supply of blood which is now on critical level due to the pandemic. Javellana noted that there has been a reduction of blood supply this year compared to 2019. Red Cross only recorded 1,400 blood units in January 2022, lower than the 2,000 during the same period in 2019. (LHC/Capitol news)