CITY OF SAN FERNANDO – The provincial government of Pampanga through the Provincial Health Office (PHO) initiated the conduct of bloodletting activities in the 11 district and provincial hospitals.
According to OIC-PHO Dr. Jose Antonio ‘Jay’ Rivera, the bloodletting project aims to address the scarcity of blood in the province and to make sure that the hospitals would not run out of free blood for the patients.
“Why is the need of blood very rampant in the province? Is it because many are sick? Is it because we lose volunteers? No, because the truth is, first, DOH banned private blood banking centers, thus reducing the source of blood. Second, we do not recommend the buying of blood because that’s prohibited. Third, because of the improvement of our district hospitals, they now have the ability to conduct surgical operations,” Rivera said.
The health officer added that the creation of an ordinance for the mandatory bloodletting activity in the district and provincial hospitals was already discussed by the Provincial Board.
“We have created a bloodletting program with the help of Board Member Joseph Anthony ‘Tonton’ Torres. We’ll create a resolution where it is mandatory for district hospitals to have blood availability. The program is very simple. A district hospital should have blood available that is equivalent to the 10 percent of the total number of employees,” Rivera said.
Rivera said the participants of the bloodletting activity are the employees and staff of the government-run hospitals.
Rivera disclosed that the project was already implemented at Diosdado P. Macapagal Memorial Hospital (DPMMH) recently.
According to Maria Katrina Zapanta, provincial blood coordinator, some 28 blood units out of 36 registered donors were collected at DPMMH.
Rivera added that the bloodletting activity will also be held at Ricardo P. Rodriguez Memorial Hospital (Bualon) on March 21, Jose Songco Lapid District Hospital (Porac) on March 22, Escolastica Romero District Hospital (Floridablanca) on March 23, Ricardo P. Rodriguez Memorial Hospital (Bacolor) on March 30, Romana Pangan District Hospital on April 6, Domingo B. Flores Memorial Hospital (Macabebe) on April 20, Mabalacat District Hospital on April 27, Emigdio C. Cruz Memorial Hospital (Arayat) on May 4, San Luis District Hospital on May 11 and Dr. Andres J. Luciano District Hospital (Magalang) on May 18.
LIEZEL CAYANAN
