MANILA -- Employees of Malacañang have once more shown their love for the elderly through blood donation for "lolos" and "lolas" during the annual blood-letting activity on Friday.
The noteworthy event, spearheaded by the News and Information Bureau (NIB) in partnership with the Department of Health’s (DOH) Philippine Blood Center (PBC), was held at the Mesla Conference Room in Malacañang.
Lucresia Roque, NIB special projects officer, said they chose the senior citizens of the community day care of the Jose R. Reyes Memorial Medical Center Department of Geriatric and General Health services annex along San Miguel, Malacañang, Manila as yearly recipients as a way of giving back to the elderly.
The move is also in support of the call of the DOH to establish “safe” blood donation centers.
"We also do this same activity during the month of October, during Elderly Filipino Week Celebration, as our gift to them," Roque told the Philippine News Agency (PNA).
She added that the yearly blood-letting event, now on its sixth year, has been held seven times this year with the "triple needle twists" experience among blood donors.
"The first needle inserted is for getting their blood. The next needle will be for acupuncture services, and the third one will be for acupressure services. Acupuncture and acupressure services can be availed of by those who are experiencing some pain in the bodies," she said.
Fidez Cuchapin, an NIB employee who donated blood, said it was her fifth time to participate in the activity.
"Gusto kong makatulong sa mga nangangailangan ng dugo (I want to help those who need blood)," Cuchapin said.
She said she was enticed to donate blood after she learned that she was not only helping others through her "donation" but is also replenishing blood cells in her body.
"In return, I can have new blood cells after I gave it away. It is a nice feeling that you are giving something for free and you are not losing it actually," Cucaphin added with a smile.
Benjamin Narag, a utility personel of NIB, said he began to donate blood after the child of one of his friends asked for blood donation. Since then, Narag has been donating regularly.
Another reason that convinced him to continuously donate was to pay forward what other blood donors did for his father, who was in dire need of blood for a bypass operation in 2008.
"It feels good to know that through the blood I give, I can let others live even for just a few more years to enjoy life," he added.
PBC medical officer, Dr. Jordana Diamson, said bloodletting events are vital in supplying the medical requirements to treat several diseases.
"Blood donation is very important, especially in the Philippines. There are certain diseases that need constant transfusion of blood like those suffering from hemophilia, blood dyscrasia, CKDs (chronic kidney disease), on top of cases of trauma, and heavy bleeding, among others," Diamson said.
She noted that for each bag donated, three components can be derived -- plasma, platelets, and white cells -- which can help three patients who need these blood components.
Diamson said blood donors should not fear about losing blood once they donate.
"Once blood is donated, the cells sense it and produce new blood cells to replenish it," she noted. (PNA)
