CITY OF SAN FERNANDO–Pampanga Governor Lilia G. Pineda said the government should strengthen the blood-letting activities in the province by providing incentives to the donors particularly the indigents and ensuring the health of their families.
“If we want to strengthen blood donation in the country, we must motivate even indigents to participate through incentives,” the governor said during the kick-off ceremony of the Blood Donor’s Day Celebration with the theme “Every Blood Donor is a Hero”.
The governor said Pampanga “is fortunate because it was chosen as the host of this national event that promotes awareness on the significance of donating blood.”
Pineda said she believes that even a hero needs not only the honor of being called a savior but, equally important, she added, a hero needs incentives and assistance that the government could provide to address their own personal needs.
“With this incentive scheme, we can persuade and educate more poor particularly the poorest of the poor to join this heroic advocacy,” Pineda said.
To realize this idea, the governor asserted that the provincial government is willing to give free hospitalization and medication for the family of a donor every time he donates blood.
“We are willing to give assistance to the blood donor or his family in terms of free hospitalization as a way of recognition of his heroism and volunteerism”, Pineda said.
Gwendolyn Pang, secretary general of Philippine National Red Cross (PRC), commended the proposal of the governor, adding that this is a good addition to what they have been giving to their blood donors.
“PRC has been giving discount cards for donors when they are in need of blood and the proposal of Gov. Pineda will inspire more people to donate,” Pang said.
Dr. Leonita Gorgolon, Center for Health and Development (CHD) director, lauded the efforts of the governor to address health problems in Pampanga and they appreciate the proposed incentive methods of the governor to attract more blood donors.
“We are very grateful to Gov. Pineda for her extensive health programs and we will study her proposal for blood donors,” she said.
(Jennna V. Lumbang, PIO – Pampanga)
