bloodletting

Two hundred forty six (246) bags of blood will hike up the blood supply of Philippine Red Cross – Sultan Kudarat as the Local Government Unit (LGU) of Tacurong concluded its “Alay Dugo sa Araw ng mg Puso” bloodletting act on February 14, 2021, at the Tacurong City Cultural and Sports Center.

While this figure has exceeded the LGU’s anticipation of 150 blood bag collection, the collected blood, however, will still undergo series of tests to pass as safe for blood transfusion and some will be properly discarded once screening results state otherwise.

The event was carried out as part of the Disaster Response and Disaster Preparedness to cater to the high volume demand of blood in the province amplified by the coronavirus pandemic. The bloodletting was also pushed through to compensate for the cancelled blood donation last year due to the current crisis.

LDRRM Officer Rodrigo Jamorabon expressed his appreciation to the supportive efforts of various individuals from Philippine Army 6O1st Infantry Brigade, First Mechanized Brigade, 40th Infantry Battalion, 7th Infantry Battalion, Joint Task Force – Talakudong, Bureau of Fire Protection – Tacurong, Bureau of Jail Management and Penology, Association of Barangay Council, Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC), City Schools Division of Tacurong, 4Ps beneficiaries, Junior Chamber International (JCI) – Tacurong Kampilan, ASEANA Marketing, LGBTQ+ Community, City Health Office, City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO), and civilians from different walks of life.

LGU-Tacurong, along with its partner-stakeholders, was able to prepare and distribute ‘arroz caldo’, ‘balut’, soft drinks, bread, and coffee for the replenishment of the donors’ energy after their blood extraction. Female donors have also received red roses at the venue in commemoration of Valentine’s Day. (DEC, LGU-TacInfo)

“When my father underwent dialysis treatment and always needed blood transfusion, we could always rely on the blood bank. Now that he’s gone, I want to repay those people who donated their blood so patients, like my father, could live a little bit longer. That’s why I’m donating my own blood today; this is my way of saying thank you.”

This was Meliden Fusingan, a SPED teacher at Pilot Elementary School, as she nervously yet eagerly fell in line during the Dugong Konsehal Bloodletting last September 10, 2015 at the CDRMMC building.

The bloodletting drive is an initiative of the Sangguniang Panlungsod, as spearheaded by Vice Mayor Joseph George Lechonsito and Councilor Rodrigo Jamorabon, with the theme “Para sa Kapamilya… Dugo Mo, Dugo Ko”; the activity was in connection with the 19th Philippine Councilors Week.

Eight nurses from the Philippine Red Cross (PRC) Sultan Kudarat – Tacurong chapter composed the extraction team headed by Rey Larroza, RMT, and three members of the Department of Health (DOH) Tacurong Office assisted in the different stages of the blood letting process.

At stage 1, members of the DOH team had prospective donors fill up a form inquiring about their medical history and other vital health information. Then their blood pressure and weight were measured and recorded. Once approved, they moved on to stage 2 where three members of the PRC extraction team collected their blood samples in order to identify their blood type. Each donor was then handed their own bloodletting kit, and then proceeded inside the CDRMMC building.

Inside the building, the rest of the PRC extraction team carefully guided the donors and eased them into bloodletting. Each donor did not take long, and after they filled their bags, they were rested for fifteen minutes.

After they have rested, a snack bar awaited them at the kitchen of the CDRMMC building sponsored by Vice Mayor Joseph George Lechonsito himself. Staff of the SP assisted the donors and provided them with the various prepared snacks to help them regain their strength.

The donors were mostly public school teachers, college students, LGU employees, barangay officials, NGA employees, private citizens, and members of the Armed Forces, Philippine National Police, and Bureau of Fire Protection.

By the end of the bloodletting drive, Councilor Jamorabon reported that they were able to collect 60 bags of blood. These donations will be processed for approval and will be ready when people need them. (Yen Robles, LGU Tacurong)

Tag: bloodletting

LGU’s Valentine bloodletting fills 246 blood bags for Red Cross

Dugong Konsehal Bloodletting Activity 2015