Red Cross urges youth to donate blood

By Lilibeth A. French

Sunday 8th of July 2012

ILOILO CITY, July 8 (PIA6) -- The Philippine Red Cross-Western Visayas Regional Blood Center will hold Blood Program Youth Awareness activities on July 9 to 11 as part of the observance of the Blood Donors Month this July.

The three-day event will be held at the Central Philippine University in Jaro. It will start July 9 with a foot parade at the university parade grounds to be followed by a program and a youth forum.

One highlight of the event is the CPU Blood Olympics, a contest participated in by different colleges to raise more units of blood. Held for the past two years, the activity intends to promote and encourage voluntary blood donation among young people.

PRC-WVRBC manager Dr. Judith Jimeno said the theme of this year’s Blood Donor Month observance, “Every Blood Donor is a Hero,”strongly encourages more people all over the world to donate blood voluntarily and regularly while recognizing the silent and unsung heroes who save lives everyday through their blood donation.

She added that during the observance, “we also acknowledge and thank the groups and individuals who in one way or another respond to society’s need for volunteer blood donors.”

Blood Donors Month is being observed in the country pursuant to Presidential Proclamation No. 1021 dated July 9, 1997. (JCM/LAF-PIA6)