Voluntary blood donation now in basic education curriculum

By Rutchie C. Aguhob

Monday 18th of June 2012

OROQUIETA CITY, Misamis Occidental, June 18 (PIA) -- The voluntary blood donation program has been added to the basic education curriculum of the Department of Education (DepEd), with Secretary Armin Luistro issuing DepEd Memorandum Order No. 96 to this effect.

The Education Secretary, issuing this order last May 28, said topics in the learning materials of the subject will be integrated in the curriculum of the elementary, secondary, and alternative learning system (ALS) and soon in the K to 12 curriculum.

He said the Philippines is a grant recipient of the Global Fund for AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria and the Department of Health Central Office was chosen as the principal recipient for the Global Fund Round-6 human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) project.

The project aims to maintain less than one-percent HIV prevalence in the country through scaling up HIV prevention treatment, care, and support through enhanced voluntary counseling and testing and improved blood safety strategies.

In support of the National Voluntary Blood Services Program (NVBSP), the DOH-Global Fund Round 6-HIV Project also funded the development of learning materials on voluntary blood donation.

These learning materials were developed in 2009-2010 with the help of experts in the areas of Science, Edukasyong Pagpakatao (EP) Sibika and Music, Art, Physical Education, and Health (MAPEH).

Secretary Luistro said teachers will play an important role in the implementation and the utilization of the learning materials.

A team from DepEd and the DOH will be visiting the divisions and school, nationwide, to distribute and orient the end-users on the learning materials for free.

Hence, information dissemination on NVBSP through advocacy activities is encouraged at the division and school levels, Secretary Luistro added. (RCA-PIA 10, Mis. Occ.)