ABCC works to meet Aklan Blood Supply

by: Dr. Cynthia C. dela Cruz

KALIBO, AKLAN - The province of Aklan has an estimated yearly blood requirement of 5,000 plus bags of blood in order to supply 1 % of its current population of 500,000 +. This figure is based on the average national blood requirement, according to Dr. Elepoldo P. Magpusao , OIC Provincial Health team leader, DOH – Provincial Health Team Office.

At present, the Philippine Red Cross (PRC), Aklan Chapter has collected 2, 973 bags of blood which represents some 59% of the national target. However, with our semi urban set up, a blood level of 3,500 blood bags collected per year is already a comfortable level.

‘We have also adequate supply of whole blood as of this time’, said Mrs.Aracely Pelayo, PRC- Aklan Administrator. ‘ We just don’t have an adequate supply of blood components: fresh frozen Plasma, platelet concentrate and packed RBC, due to the lack of equipment like refrigerated centrifuge, plasma freezer, plasma segregator and platelet agitator. The families of patients in need have to go to nearby provinces of Capiz or Iloilo to procure these blood components, or else have their patients transferred to a hospital in the neighboring province.’

Studies from National Center for disease prevention and control reported that in every hospital there is an average need of 4 cases needing blood, and there are 3 out of 10 cases that can not procure blood for whatever reason. They also said that blood from a paid donor is three times more likely to have any four blood transmissible diseases such as malaria, syphilis, hepatitis B and AIDS. According to Dr Elepoldo P. Magpusao , PRC- Aklan has rejected 7% of our collected blood after screening, mostly due to positive Hepatitis B.

On October 16, 2010 ABCC ( Aklan Blood Coordinating Council) had its first initiative Voluntary Blood Program at the PRC Compound. Invited donors were from the Philippine National Police, the Phil Army Reserve, the Rotary Club, the Kiwanis Club, the BCBP, the Aklan Tennis Club, Bread and Butter Food Industries, Aklan Medical Society doctors, and many more.

In a resolution of the Aklan Blood Coordinating Council ( ABCC)(2010-003) dated August 23rd 2010, it was agreed to seek the aid of local government units in the province of Aklan as collaborators with ABCC in helping to persuade and encourage all of their constituents to support the Voluntary Blood Donation Program of the province. So far the towns of Tangalan, Altavas and Ibajay including ILHZ 4 towns (Malinao, Numancia,Lezo, Makato) have conducted their local initiative yearly blood donation program. We hope that more local town initiative blood donations will soon follow.

At present the provincial government of Aklan, through its governor Gov. Carlito S.Marquez, is finding means to acquire additional blood services and equipment required to fulfil the needs of this province. A letter to DOH Regional Director Ariel Valencia was forwarded by the Provincial Government through ABCC requesting assistance to establish local blood services considering many factors. Likewise PRC- Aklan is finding ways also to upgrade their blood facilities.

PRC- Aklan has a series of VBD (Voluntary Blood Donation) schedules with government organizations , private companies and some LGU municipalities. So far with increasing awareness through our tri-media ,and the effort of many concern groups we are close to our comfortable target level.

With the cooperation and help of many organizations, provincial government, municipalities, Aklan Medical Society, DOH and Aklan Blood Coordinating Council , we hope that we will have an adequate yearly supply of blood together with components for our community needs.

* Dr, Cynthia C. Dela Cruz, is the current President of the Aklan Blood Coordinating Council and Governor of the Western Visayas Philippine Medical Association./TE