DAET, Camarines Norte (PIA) – The provincial government of Camarines Norte has commended its municipalities for collecting 6,180 bags of blood last year, nearly achieving the target set by the government’s Voluntary Blood Donation Program (VBDP).
Under the VBDP, Camarines Norte aimed for 1 percent of its 647,900 residents to become blood donors.
Provincial Health Officer Arnel Francisco emphasized that “the need for blood is universal because safe blood and blood products are essential for both emergency and treatment purposes.”
Francisco said that the recognition and appreciation would encourage local government units (LGUs) to further their efforts in the government’s blood donation drive.
“The provincial government gave them cash incentives that could be used to fuel their blood donation drive,” he said.
The municipalities of Labo, Basud, and Mercedes received plaques of recognition and P150,000, while San Vicente received a plaque and P100,000 in the small municipalities category.
All eight other municipalities in the province also received plaques of appreciation for their efforts in the blood donation drive.
Plaques of appreciation were also given to the Philippine National Police, Philippine Red Cross-Camarines Norte, Bureau of Fire Protection, Bicol Medical Center, Camarines Norte Government Workers Multi-Purpose Cooperative, and the Philippine Army 51st Community Defense Center.
Raymundo Ibarrientos, head of the Bicol Transfusion Science Center at Bicol Medical Center, said that 1 percent of the population in Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, and Masbate equates to 40,000 bags of blood.
People in hospitals who urgently need blood transfusions include cancer patients, accident victims, those with blood disorders, mothers giving birth, and children suffering from dengue fever, he said.
“We cannot bring blood to those in need without the help of LGUs, so, we thank you LGUs,’’ he said. (PIA5/Camarines Norte)
