PHL falls short of 1-M blood bags target in 2016

Health Secretary Paulyn Ubial has urged Filipinos to donate blood as the country came short of its target of one million blood bags last year.

Ubial said the Department of Health collected only around 920,000 blood bags last year, below the global target of at least one percent of a country's population as blood donors.

She emphasized the benefits of donating blood especially among men, who do not menstruate, in helping generate new blood cells.

"There are many benefits when you donate blood, but what we want to promote is the principle of altruism or when you voluntarily or selflessly help others. It is better to become a blood donor than a blood recipient so donate blood now," Ubial said.

"New blood is circulating in your body on a regular basis when you donate. It is important especially among men because they do not menstruate. It would be a good practice for you if your old blood cells are replaced by new blood cells," she added.

Ubial, meanwhile, said not all aspiring donors are accepted by the DOH, noting that those who underwent piercings or had tatoos within the last six months are prohibited from donating blood.

Filipinos who traveled to areas where mosquito-borne diseases are also not allowed to donate blood, according to Ubial.

"We do not promote that people with risky behavior to donate blood so those who wish to donate are interviewed before blood donation takes place. For example, those who underwent ear piercing, tatooing and have had injection within the last six months are not accepted for blood donation," she said.

Ubial said the DOH is hopeful its beefed up information campaign on blood donation can help the agency achieve its target of more than one million blood bags in 2017. —ALG, GMA News