Bangsamoro Government’s Ministry of Health (MOH) joins the celebration of World Blood Donor Day with a bloodletting drive on June 14, 2024 inside the MOH Compound in Cotabato City. (Faisal Camsa Jr./BIO)
COTABATO CITY—Bangsamoro Government on Friday joined the international community in celebrating 20 years of the selfless act of donating blood with a bloodletting activity held in this city.
The region’s Ministry of Health (MOH) partnered with Cotabato Regional & Medical Center (CRMC) to recognize and praise blood donors for their lifesaving donations in line with the celebration of World Blood Donors Day.
Health Minister Dr. Kadil Sinolinding, Jr. expressed heartfelt gratitude to every Bangsamoro who shared and continues to donate their blood for the welfare of others.
“Blood donation is a great help to those in need to get a balance in their life. This is patriotism that money can’t buy because every life matters,” the Minister said.
He added, “Through your concern and love for others, lives can be saved, Insha Allah, which is one of the teachings of Islam.”
This year’s celebration with the slogan: “20 years of celebrating giving: thank you, blood donors!” aimed to raise awareness about the need for safe blood and blood products to save lives while promoting a culture of regular blood donation among the youths.
The campaign also served as an opportunity to express gratitude to blood, plasma, and platelet donors in the world for their lifesaving donations.
With a total of 73 bags of blood donation collected during the activity, MOH Regional Blood Donation Coordinator Nudin Amil emphasized that donors are considered “modern-day heroes.”
“Every single blood donation is a precious lifesaving gift, and repeat donation is the key to building a safe and sustainable blood supply,” he said.
A member of the Philippine Army, Alexis John Fernandez, 37, from Maguindanao del Norte, is a regular blood donor who recognizes the benefits of blood giving.
“Our family before experienced how difficult it was to get readily available blood from the blood bank […] I felt fulfilled every time I donated blood and saved the lives of our Filipino people.”
Nosria Akan, 39, a resident of Maguindanao del Sur shared that it was her first time to donate blood.
She shared, “Help saving the lives of fellow Bangsamoro is a worthy work and a form of worship.”
MOH Director II for Technical Services Dr. Ahmad-Fawadz Israel encouraged the Bangsamoro community to donate blood to save more lives.
“Let us come together as a community and embrace the spirit of World Blood Donor Day, recognizing that every drop of blood donated can make a profound difference in the lives of our fellow Bangsamoro,” he stressed.
While health authorities discourage those with terminal illnesses and those using illegal substances from donating, blood donation remains a critical act of compassion that can save lives. (Kasan Usop, Jr./BIO)
