Ensure adequate blood supply in RP through regular blood letting - Gordon

Senator Richard J. Gordon (Ind.) called on the public to help ensure that the country would have an adequate supply of blood by participating in bloodletting activities.

Gordon, chairman of the Philippine National Red Cross (PNRC), made the call as he lauded members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines who donated blood at the bloodletting activity sponsored by the National Defense College of the Philippines (NDCP) during its 45th founding anniversary.

"Napakahalaga nitong blood letting sapagkat kailangan ng ating bansa ngayon ng dugo. Dapat nating i-build up ang ating blood bank para lagi tayong may sapat na supply ng dugo. It is also important that we always have a blood bank na handang magsilbi sa ating bayan," he said.

"Napakaganda ng ginagawa ngayon ng ating mga military. Sa panahon na ito malaking bagay ang ginagawa niyong pagsasakripisyo. That is why I would like to salute the men and women of the Armed Forces who are here giving blood para sa ganoon makatulong tayo sa ating mga kababayan," he added.

Gordon explained that by the year 2010, only the Department of Health (DOH) and the PNRC would be the only organizations authorized to collect and distribute blood, hence, it is imperative for the Red Cross to always have an adequate supply in its blood banks. He added that the climate change occurring in the world at present is also contributing to the need for a steady supply of blood.

"Sa hamon ng panahon ngayon, sa dami ng viruses na lumalabas, sa dami ng mga disasters na nagyayari, kailangan natin maka-store ng dugo palagi para makaalpas tayo sa mga problema natin," he said.