RCY-UCV Conducts First Solo Blood Drive

A volunteer's blood sample is being tested for fitness to
donate blood

In partnership with the Philippine Red Cross Cagayan Chapter, the Red Cross Youth (RCY), UCV council conducted its first solo blood letting drive at The New Building last Feb. 3, 2016, with the theme "Red Cross: Always first, always ready, always there."

RCY UCV council is a student organization composed of student-leaders from the College of Health (COH) led by fourth year BS Nursing student Kathleen Kaye Taloza, along with their Advisers and Clinical Instructors Ms. Odessa Cristobal and Ms. Maria Zoraida Cusipag.

Sixteen students from the organization composed of Nursing and Midwifery students, along with four representatives from the Philippine Red Cross were present during the event where they ran tests and extracted blood from volunteers composed mainly of students.

Volunteer's finger is pricked to extract blood
sample for testing of fitness to donate

According to Taloza, the event was organized to create a blood deposit account of RCY UCV in Red Cross, for the benefit of the donors as well as their families and friends.

Last year, UCV's HOPE Society, another student organization, tied up with RCY for an earlier blood drive (officially called the Blood Olympics) for UCV's account in the Cagayan Valley Medical Center (CVMC).

The activity was done in light of recent Dengue cases that have become rampant in the locality.

World Health Organization (WHO) says that Dengue, a mosquito-borne viral infection, causes flu-like illness which sometimes causes potentially lethal complication called 'severe dengue' or what was previously known as dengue haemorrhagic fever.

The infection was first recognized in the 1950's during epidemics in the Philippines and Thailand. Asian and Latin American countries are affected by dengue where it has become a leading cause of hospitalization and death among children and adults in the regions.

Jennefer Ballouan uses a stress-ball to 

help her release more blood

According to Jennefer Ballouan, a BS Criminology student and blood donor who was admittedly nervous initially, "...gusto ko pong tumulong... Pareho po kasing may benefit, pag nangailangan po ako, may mapagkukuhanan..." (I want to help... since there are mutual benefits, when I would be in need, I can have something in return).

Mary Jane Fugaban, another Criminology student said "...gusto ko pong malinisan ang dugo ko" (I want my blood to be cleansed) and that "gusto ko rin pong tumulong para sa mga nangangailangan" (I also want to help those in need).

Fugaban was however disqualified to donate because it was found during the screening phase that her blood was anemic.

Aside from the booth made visible by the walkway, the RCY also conducted room to room invitations to volunteers.  As of 10:00 in the morning, RCY has exceeded their minimum number of donors which was seventy (70).  They were able to secure 120 donors in the first half of the day alone.

Donating blood not only helps patients in need.  Experts say that donating blood reduces the risk of cancer and heart disease.  It also helps burn calories and can serve as a free health checkup.