31 August 2005
‘Bleed for dengue,” VM Alvin appeals
ANTICIPATING possible outbreak of dengue here and in various parts of the country, city officials have called for blood donation from among able-bodied citizens to be used by patients needing replacement of their lost blood platelets.
Acting Mayor Alvin Fernandez initiated the campaign for blood donation in his meeting Thursday with the city’s 31 barangay captains even though the dengue situation here is not yet quite alarming.
Fernandez’ call was supported by the city council which passed a resolution calling on all able-bodied citizens to donate blood for ready use by any dengue patient here.
The blood to be donated by the citizens would be processed by a blood separator in order to separate the vital platelets from the mass of blood.
Doctors said the dengue virus carried by the day-biting aedes aegypti mosquito, once it is in the body, destroys the person’s blood platelets.
The Region 1 Medical Center reported that it has adequate supply of blood platelets since it is the only hospital in the Ilocos equipped with a blood separator.
Dr. Jesus Canto, R1MC chief, however expressed fear that because of the increasing number of dengue cases in the country, their supply of platelets could run out unless replenished soon.
This is because they are now the region’s chief supplier of blood platelets and representatives of various hospitals from as far as Ilocos are coming to buy these from them.
The city health office however stressed that there is nothing to worry about because to date, there are only a few cases of dengue recorded in some areas of Dagupan. Two deaths however have been recorded in the city.
Acting Mayor Alvin Fernandez initiated the campaign for blood donation in his meeting Thursday with the city’s 31 barangay captains even though the dengue situation here is not yet quite alarming.
Fernandez’ call was supported by the city council which passed a resolution calling on all able-bodied citizens to donate blood for ready use by any dengue patient here.
The blood to be donated by the citizens would be processed by a blood separator in order to separate the vital platelets from the mass of blood.
Doctors said the dengue virus carried by the day-biting aedes aegypti mosquito, once it is in the body, destroys the person’s blood platelets.
The Region 1 Medical Center reported that it has adequate supply of blood platelets since it is the only hospital in the Ilocos equipped with a blood separator.
Dr. Jesus Canto, R1MC chief, however expressed fear that because of the increasing number of dengue cases in the country, their supply of platelets could run out unless replenished soon.
This is because they are now the region’s chief supplier of blood platelets and representatives of various hospitals from as far as Ilocos are coming to buy these from them.
The city health office however stressed that there is nothing to worry about because to date, there are only a few cases of dengue recorded in some areas of Dagupan. Two deaths however have been recorded in the city.
