EASTERN VISAYAS—The Eastern Visayas Medical Center (EVMC) has reached out to local government units (LGUs) to bolster blood donation drives as the region faces a sharp rise in dengue fever cases necessitating increased blood transfusions.
According to Philippines News Agency, Roland Gorgonia, the blood bank supervisor at EVMC, emphasized the critical need for local leaders’ involvement to maintain an adequate blood supply. The call for support comes as the Department of Health in Eastern Visayas reports a significant surge in dengue cases, with 11,624 instances recorded as of September 17, marking a 314 percent increase compared to the same period in 2023. This year, the viral disease has already resulted in 23 deaths.
Gorgonia highlighted the ongoing challenge in meeting the blood supply demands, despite regular mobile blood donation campaigns conducted by EVMC. He pointed out that not all LGUs actively participate in blood donation drives, and those that do often collect only minimal quantities, insufficient to meet the region’s needs. The shortage of blood supply is particularly acute during the fiesta season in May and the festive months of January and December.
The EVMC’s appeal to LGUs underscores the vital role that community-level participation plays in health care crisis management, especially in times of widespread health emergencies such as the current dengue outbreak.