The Iloilo Provincial Health Office (PHO) has urged residents to help in the blood donation drive to aid the supply of the Philippine Red Cross (PRC).

Dr. Maria Socorro Colmenares-Quiñon, provincial health officer, said Ilonggos should also pay attention to the blood donation “especially that dengue cases are on the rise.”

From January 1 to May 18, 43 towns and one component city in the province recorded a total of 1,846 dengue and 10 deaths.

“Especially that dengue cases are on the rise, we need platelets. We need to intensify our blood collection because we will also be needing blood for maternal cases like maternal complications and post-partum hemorrhage,” Quiñon said in an interview recently.

The local government units (LGUs), especially the blood coordinators, should encourage and spearhead blood collection in municipalities, she said.

Donors should coordinate with the LGU or nearby district hospital on the schedule of blood donation.

The PRC also accepts walk-ins, but Quiñon reminds those who are willing to donate to ensure they get at least six hours of sleep and must be in good health.

The PHO also urged and sent communications to offices in the Iloilo Provincial Capitol to donate blood to the PRC.

Quiñon also lauded the Rural Health Units and district hospitals in the province, which had been “very active” in helping the province gather more blood donations.

These health facilities ensure that its pregnant patients have their blood donors in case they would be needing blood in time of birth.

Aside from health facilities, Quiñon also commended LGUs who secured 1 percent of its population as blood donors.

For 2018, the town of Tubungan reached 2.46 percent of its population as blood donors; Passi City, 2.08 percent; and Igbaras, 1.39 percent.

Towns of Banate, Binagawan, Mina, Santa Barbara, Zarraga, San Enrique, and Dueñas also reached the 1-percent target.

“These municipalities excel for 2018 in terms of blood donation so this is an accomplishment both for their donations for the PRC and Western Visayas Medical Center,” she said.

The PHO currently consolidates its data on the 2019 blood donations. (PNA)