Shortage in blood supply and rising demand for blood transfusion are some of the challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Blood supplies run low due to increase in demand and donation drives stalled amid pandemic” said Dr. Patricia Fernandez of Department of Health-Philippine Blood Center.
Helping to address this depleting supply, SM Malls in Marilao, San Jose Del Monte, Baliwag and Pulilan conducted their blood donation drive in partnership with the DOH, Philippine Red Cross (PRC), Philippine Blood Center (PBC) and SM Foundation Inc.
With the assistance of SM medical services and Philippine Red Cross, 77 blood bags were collected from SM City Baliwag last March 3 and 4, while a total of 62 bags were recorded in SM Center Pulilan during its two-day donation drive held last March 7 and 8.
DOH-PBC Blood donor recruitment officer Jerick Laxamana said a total of 90 bags were collected from donors of SM City San Jose Del Monte on Thursday while 90 bags were collected Friday from successful donors in SM City Marilao.
“We are thankful to SM as well as the unwavering support of its employees, tenants, and affiliates” said Dr. Fernandez.
“Our partnership with SM help us build awareness on blood donation. One blood bag donation can help save three lives as a whole blood donation can be separated into three components: red blood cells, plasma, and platelets,” she added.
Blood donation drive at SM is in support of the Republic Act No. 7719, the National Blood Services Act of 1994,which encourages and promotes voluntary blood donation to provide sufficient supply of safe blood.
SM Foundation has scheduled 80 bloodletting activities nationwide for the year 2022.
