New Cebu group offers free bags of blood for patients needing transfusion

The DADB Cebu Chapter gathered 87 bags of blood during their first bloodletting activity at Camp Lapu-Lapu in Cebu City. | Zena V. Magto

CEBU CITY, Philippines — Cebuanos, who need blood for transfusion, can now have an option to get that bag of blood for free.

This after 24 businessmen and volunteers formed a group, which is the 13th chapter or the Cebu Chapter of a nonprofit organization, Dugong Alay Dugtong Buhay (DADB), that aimed to offer free blood to people in need of transfusion.

“Those who need blood may coordinate through me. They just have to give their name, age, blood type, blood component and the name of their hospital so we could check with the blood bank,” said Miguel Reyes, the Cebu DADB coordinator.

The group now have 87 bags of blood they acquired from their first bloodletting activity at Camp Lapu-Lapu Central Command in Barangay Apas, Cebu City on May 4, Saturday.

“One bag of blood, can actually save three lives,” said Chester Lim, honorary member of the DADB Cebu Chapter.

Lim further explained that a bag of blood is actually separated into platelet, plasma and red blood cell.

Over 200 members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) participated in the blood donation campaign which ran from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The DADB is a non-profit organization in the country, which aims to promote regular blood donation, as people are in need of fresh blood every day.

The blood collected will then be banked in hospitals for use of patients who are need of blood transfusion.

The group also cited the benefits of donating blood regularly, which would include the replenishment of cells, increase of oxygen capacity and the promotion of overall wellness, as candidates for blood donation must be physically healthy.

The organization plans to hold bloodletting activities weekly in barangays to invite more people to donate. /dbs