Blood Donation Programs of Davao City: Bases for a Policy Ordinance

Abstract

In the past, the immediate need for blood in Asia was so urgent that authorities set up systems that quickly resulted in the establishment of commercial blood donor systems which however provided sub-optimally safe blood. Today many families, who are in dire need of blood, recruil blood donors for their patients in an effort to meet the blood requirements resulting to friends and relatives being under pressure at the requests. There are people who are recruited financially and they appear to be very much like commercial donors. These systems are still perpetuated in many hospitals today. In Davaa City various private service-oriented organizations, concerned with the need for safe and adequate supply of blood. conduct their own blood-Ielling activities, or col/aborate wilh the Philippine National Red Cross. Potential donors, schools and colleges do their share though hardly being institutionalized. Many barangays, however, have not given the right attention and importance to voluntary blood-telting activities. The study gathered data on Ihe prevailing programs on blood donation of the Philippine National Red Cross (Davao City Chapter); civic organizalions like Ihe Rotary. Lions, Kiwanis. elc.; the Davao City Health Office; Ihe academe; and the barangays. Documenlary analyses were done to eSlablish a picture of the blood demand and supply of Davao City. Many roadblocks are seen. Foremost is the lack of a policy program to synchronize Ihese blood donal ion programs. The researchers opt to balance all options and come up wilh Ihe proposed Barangay Blood Donors Ordinance aimed to reinforce Republic Act 7719 othenvise known as the Blood Services Act of 1994. The proposed ordinance will be submilledfor first reading to the 15'" Regular Council Session of the Davao City Sangguniang Panhmgsod before the end of July, 2008 by tlze City Councilor Pilar C. Braga. who also commissioned the study.

 

Keywords: Blood Donation Program, Blood Supply