ILOILO – “It is our moral and social responsibility to help people in need.”
Mayor Jaime Esmeralda of Igbaras town, a 15-time blood donor, stressed this as he encouraged Ilonggos not to hesitate donating blood.
“It is a healthy endeavor nga mag-donate sang dugo,” Esmeralda told Panay News.
Being a doctor, Esmeralda assured the public that the process is safe.
Citing studies, he also explained that blood cells have a lifespan of 90 days.
“Kon indi mo pag–i-donate nagakapatay (blood cell)… then naga-agi sa ihi mo, sa higku or sa balhas… Kanugon man lang. Amo ‘na nga ginapa-intindi ta sa mga tawo nga imbes nga maggwa sa lawas mo, why not donate it,” Esmeralda added.
Meanwhile, with its consistent conduct of bloodletting activities, Igbaras topped other local government units (LGUs) in this province in the number of blood donors in 2020.
Data from the Philippine Red Cross (PRC)-Iloilo Chapter showed Igbaras even exceeding the required number of donors per LGU, which is one percent of the total population.
In 2020, Esmeralda said the town had 397 blood donors – 1.17 percent of the total population.
This wasn’t hard to achieve because of their strong advocacy campaigns on blood donation, according to Esmeralda.
Per quarter, the mayor said the LGU is conducting a bloodletting activity in coordination with PRC-Iloilo.
“Kinahanglan gid naton ang dugo kapin pa damo sa amon diri ang naga-kinahanglan sang blood transfusion bangod sang kidney failure. Ti, ang gina-obra namon, ang nagapangayo sang dugo sa amon ginatagaan kag gina-remind man nga ‘pag may donation they have really to donate para mabalik nila ang reserve namon nga dugo sa PRC,” added Esmeralda.
The LGU also extended food and fare to blood donors.
Igbaras had its latest bloodletting activity on July 3; it collected 150 packs of bags.
On the other hand, barangay councilman Arniel Lumbo of Sooc, Arevalo, Iloilo City also said there’s nothing to fear about donating blood.
In his case, whenever he had the time and in good condition, he donates blood.
“Mas kahadlokan naton nga indi kita makasugpon sang kabuhi sang aton pamilya, kakilala kag sang mga naga kinahanglan,” Lumbo stressed.
He also encouraged the Ilonggos to participate in bloodletting activities./PN
