Jobert Bandigan BSN-IIB

Princess Alice J. Tabunda

NATIONAL VOLUNTARY BLOOD SERVICES PROGRAM (NVBSP)

Republic Act 7719 is otherwise known as the “National Blood Services Act of 1994”,
promotes voluntary blood donation to provide sufficient supply of safe blood and to regulate
blood blanks. This aims to inculcate public awareness that blood donation is a humanitarian
act.
The National Voluntary Blood Services Program (NVBSP) of the Department of Health is
targeting the youth as volunteers in its blood donation program this year. In accordance with
RA No. 7719, it aims to create public consciousness on the importance of blood donation in
saving of millions of Filipinos.
Based from the data from the National Voluntary Blood Services Program, a total of 654,763
blood units were collected in 2009. Fifty-eight percent (58%) of which was from voluntary
blood donation and the remaining from replacement donation. This year, particular provinces
have already achieved 100% voluntary blood donation. The DOH is hoping that many
individuals will become regular voluntary unpaid donors to guarantee sufficient supply of safe
blood and to meet national blood necessities.
July of every year is declared as the “Blood Donors Month” by former President Fidel V.
Ramos per proclamation No. 1021 signed on June 9, 1997. The whole month of July
encourages all men and women to the altruistic cause of blood donation and the time to
acknowledge our blood donors of their noble act of saving lives through their gift of blood.
This year, the DOH through the National Voluntary Blood Services Program (NVBSP) with
the DOH Regional Office III, spearhead the kick-off activity for the month-long celebration.
The focus of this year’s campaign is centered on the importance of the blood supply in
emergency settings like natural disasters as well as man-made catastrophes (eg. Road accidents
and armed conflicts). Emergencies trigger increased demand for blood supply. To prevent a
significant draw down of blood supply, a well-organized blood services is necessary to meet
blood necessities especially in times of crisis.
The celebration of Blood Donors Month in the Philippines is also inspired by the annual
celebration of World Blood Donor Day every 14th of June.
The Main Objectives are:
1. To promote and encourage voluntary blood donation by the citizenry and to instill
public consciousness of the principle that blood donation is a humanitarian act.
2. To provide, adequate, safe, affordable and equitable distribution of supply of blood and
blood products.
3. To mobilize all sectors of the community to participate in mechanisms for voluntary
and non-profit collection of blood.
By virtue of Republic Act 7719 otherwise known as the “National Blood Services Act of 1994”
the Department of Health in cooperation with the Philippine National Red Cross (PNRC) and
Philippine Blood Coordinating Council (PBCC) and other government agencies and non-
government organizations is mandated to plan and implement a National Voluntary Blood
Services Program (NVBSP).
Vision: Envision a network of modernized national and regional blood centers operating on a
fully voluntary, non-remunerated blood donation system.
Mission: Ensure adequate, safe and accessible blood supply by:
a. Promoting voluntary blood donation as a way of life for every qualified healthy Filipino
b. Establishing new blood service facilities and upgrading existing ones
c. Organizing association of blood donors and training medical (nurse, doctor)
practitioners on national blood use
To ensure the safety of blood supply, donors must meet certain requirements before donating.
To be eligible a blood donor must:
 Weigh more than 45 kilograms (100 lbs) for 250 ml. of donated blood; 50 kilograms
(110 lbs) for 450 ml of donated blood.
 Be in good health
 Be aged 16-65 years of age (for ages 16 and 17, parental consent is needed)
 Have a good blood pressure in safe range 90-160 mmHg systolic, 60-100 mmHg
diastolic
 Have hemoglobin at least 125g/l (12.5g/d/)
Conditions preventing one from donating blood:
1. Diabetes
2. Cancer
3. Hyperthyroidism
4. Cardiovascular diseases
5. Severe psychiatric disorder
6. Epilepsy/convulsions
7. Severe bronchitis and other lung disorders such as TB
8. AIDS, Syphilis and other sexually transmitted diseases (past and present)
9. Malaria
10. Kidney and liver diseases, such as Hepatitis
11. Prolonged bleeding
12. Use of prohibited drugs
Steps on how to donate blood:
1. Go to the nearest Blood Collection Unit (BCU) located in a government hospitals
2. Register as a potential blood donor
3. Your health history will be taken
4. Pre-donation education and counselling will be given by a trained professional staff.
5. A physical examination follows to check on your weight, temperature, pulse and blood
pressure
6. A blood test will be done to know your blood group type
Screening and selection procedure will usually take about 10 to 15 minutes. You are
encouraged to give accurate data for your own safety and that of the recipient. All information
gathered will be treated with utmost confidentiality.

During Blood Donation

1. You will be asked to lie down on the blood donor’s couch for blood collection which
will be done by a skilled phlebotomist.
2. The amount of blood which will be taken and will be determined by a physician. It will
depend mainly on your body weight and does not exceed 450 ml.
3. This will take another 10 to 15 minutes.

Donated Blood is given to those who have:

 Patients suffering from shock
 Lost 20% or more in an accident
 Loss in surgery
 Leukemia
 Childbirth
 Major trauma
 Liver transplants
 Hemophilia
Blood extracted for donation such as:
Whole blood and red cell concentrates were in the past stored for four weeks. With the new
blood preservatives, the shelf life can be safely extended to five (5) weeks. Plasma can be stored
frozen for 12 months.
After donating blood do the following:
1. Keep an eye on your dressing. You should leave the adhesive dressing on your arm for
at least 3 hours but not more than twelve (12) hours. Do not be alarmed if some bruising
or discoloration occurs. It will disappear in a few days.
2. Avoid carrying heavy objects with your donating arm.
3. Do not smoke for the next 2 hours and avoid alcohol intake for the next twelve (12)
hours.
4. You will be advised to rest for 10 minutes.
5. Beverage and simple snacks will be served.
6. Post-donation education and counselling will be given by a trained professional staff.
7. You will be advised to drink more fluids.
8. The volume of fluids taken is completely replaced by the body within 3 to 5 hours.

Rural Health Units must have a list of “Walking Blood Donors.” This is one of the requirements
in complying with Sentrong Sigla Certification. Donor’s blood will not be extracted
immediately and “stored”. This will be required only when need arises. That is why they are
called “Walking Blood Donors.” They are on the list with their blood types and “on call” when
needed.
Program Manager:
Ms. Marites B. Estrella, RN, MM, MDM
Department of Health- National Voluntary Blood Services Program (DOH-NVBSP)
Pedrito Y. Tagayuna, MD, FPSP
Philippine Blood Center (OIC-Head)