PINURI ng World Health Organization (WHO) nitong Miyerkules ang tagumpay ng bansa na malikom ang isang milyong (blood units) blood collections mula sa populasyon.

“More than 1 million blood collected in 2017 is a real achievement that corresponds to donation rate of more than 1 percent. This is putting the Philippines ahead of many other countries in comparable situation,” lahad ni WHO Country Representative Dr. Gundo Weiler sa press briefing para sa World Blood Donations Day sa Department of Health (DoH) main office sa Maynila.

Ikinumpara rin ni Weiler ang blood donation rate sa middle-income countries na nakalista sa 0.7 porsiyento lamang.

“So with 1 percent, the Philippines is far ahead,” sabi ni Weiler.

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Ipinahayag naman ni DoH Secretary Francisco Duque III na nakakolekta ang bansa ng kabuuang 1,120,408 blood units.

Kinilala ng opisyal ng WHO ang tagumpay ng DoH, katuwang ang Philippine Red Cross, ang Philippine blood center sa bansa, at iba pang nakipagtulungan sa kagawaran.

“On behalf of WHO I’d like to congratulate in particular, Secretary Duque and PRC chairman/Senator Richard Gordon, I’d like to congratulate the DOH, Phil. Red Cross, Phil. Blood Center and all others who contributed to meet this target,” aniya.

Aniya pa, mas nakamamangha ang tagumpay dahil sa sistema ng paglikom ng dugo. Ito ay dahil boluntaryo ang donasyon at walang bayad na kapalit ang ibinigay na dugo.

Sinabi niyang ang ganitong sistema ay hindi lamang paraan para makapagtipid sa pera at mura para sa lahat, ngunit isang paraan para makalikom ng dugo nang ligtas na paraan, na makatutulong din sa tuluy-tuloy na blood supply.

“Unpaid, voluntary donation are the key to a successful National Blood System and we are very pleased to see that, here in the Philippines, this system was developed,” sabi ni Weiler.

Sa buong mundo, naghahanap ang WHO ay tinatayang 100 milyong donasyon, na kinokolekta taun-taon, bilang target.

“So one in a 100 donations around the globe are being generated here in the Philippines. That is a good number and probably a sufficient number to cover the essential blood needs and to save uncounted lives of mothers and children in particular here in the Philippines,” sabi pa niya.

“The act of giving blood is therefore an expression of solidarity with our fellow humans.”

“This year’s slogan, “Share life, give blood”, draws attention to the role that voluntary donation systems play in encouraging people to care for one another,” dagdag pa niya.

Ayon sa WHO, isang mahalagang bahagi ng anumang health system ang ligtas na blood supply at kinakailangan para makamit ang universal health coverage.