The Negros Occidental Provincial Health Office and Negros First Provincial Blood Center spearheaded the bloodletting activity held at the Capitol Social Hall yesterday with the theme, “Give Blood and Keep the World Beating.”

The activity is in line with the National Blood Donors’ Month this July.

Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson said that there is a need for constant and stable supply of blood throughout the year especially in this time of crisis.

He also said that blood donation remains to be the only way of providing blood, and engaging blood donors remains to be the only lifeline.

“A well-organized blood service is incumbent if we are to meet the varied blood necessities of the province. As what I always emphasize with regard to the importance of blood donation, blood is something that cannot be manufactured,” said Lacson.

“Now that we are in the course of this pandemic, the need to prevent a significant draw down of blood supply has become more critical, not to mention the decrease of blood collection over the past year,” he added.

Lacson also thanked the Negros First Provincial Blood Center, local government units, health officers, blood donor recruitment officers and coordinators, chiefs of hospitals, and nongovernment organizations for the collective effort and support to the activity.

Also present in the activity were Provincial Health Officer, Dr. Ernell Tumimbang, and Board Member Agustin Ernesto Bascon, among others./WDJ