WORLD BLOOD DONOR DAY: Gordon urges youth to donate blood

As the Philippine Red Cross (PRC) joins different countries across the globe in celebrating World Blood Donor Day, PRC Chairman Richard Gordon encouraged the youth to become voluntary blood donors. PRC recruits young people in various schools to become voluntary blood donors through the Pledge 25 Program. The organization contributed 38% of the country’s national blood collection in 2009. “I urge the youth to make a difference in the community by donating blood and enlisting other young people to become donors,” said Gordon. The World Blood Donor Day takes place every June 14 to pay tribute to people who voluntarily donate blood and thereby help save lives. Since 2004, this event has been jointly sponsored by four principal agencies: the World Health Organization (WHO), the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), the International Federation of Blood Donor Organizations (IFBDO) and the International Society of Blood Transfusion (ISBT). For this year, the celebration is dedicated to young donors, with the slogan “new blood for the world.” “I hope that the younger generation will emerge as a new set of unpaid donors who will provide quality and safe blood supply when the need arises,” stated Gordon.   The PRC chairman also expressed his gratitude to individuals who regularly donate blood without expecting any reward.  “I would like to thank all selfless blood donors who make up the foundation of a safe blood supply. Patients who were saved from the deathbeds owe their lives to these unsung heroes,” said Gordon. To ensure the public of an adequate blood supply, PRC intensifies its blood donor recruitment activities. All PRC blood service facilities collect blood from low-risk population through community mobile donations involving Project 143 blood donors. Project 143 is a volunteer recruitment project which endeavors to recruit at least 43 volunteers in every barangay, nine of which will promote voluntary blood donation.