Region short of blood

BLOOD supply in  Central Visayas can hardly keep up with the region’s daily demand of  150 blood bags.

Lack of blood donors extends the  “everyday scarcity,”  so the Sub-National Blood Center for the Visayas  augments their supply with blood from Davao, which has a 115 percent donor rate.

“We are tapping communities and encouraging them to donate more blood,” said nurse Randall Angub.

The center only accepts blood from  volunteer donors.

Patients  who need blood have to pay for testing fee.

Angub said they test donated blood  for Hepatitis B and C, malaria, syphilis and the Human Immunodeficiency Virus.

Based on Executive Order 2002-101, a red-and-white blood bag costs P1,500. A blood bag with only red blood cells costs P1, 000. A bag of plasma costs P700.

Angub said 80 percent of their blood supply is for maternity, dengue, dialysis and heart surgery patients of  government-owned Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center in Cebu City. /Reporter Candeze R. Mongaya