Chief doctor leads in Civil Service-sponsored Blood-Letting

By ALICE NICART, PIA Catbalogan
September 21, 2011

CATBALOGAN City, Samar  –  More than campaigning with convincing words, his act to submit for blood transfusion went the strongest message, to convince all other civil servants to share blood for government hospitals and the Red Cross.

It was unlikely for him to do it, way ahead of the others, but Dr. Rudolf Mabulay, Chief, Samar Provincial Hospital was first to take the Red Cross “bleeding bed”, as he offered his right arm for blood transfusion, and 10-minutes thereafter, some 450cc. of type “B” blood was ready to save a patient’s life.

Unknowingly, Mabulay’s strong “punch line” indeed went quite effective as the blood-letting activity produced a total of 46 donors of some 46 bags of assorted types of blood.

Asked how these blood would be stored, the physician replied, “some to the Red Cross, others to the Samar Provincial Hospital, still others to the Eastern Visayas Regional Medical Center (EVRMC)”.

“The local hospital’s storage system is safe enough to keep the donated blood”, he assured the press.

Mabulay was followed with a host of men in camouflage uniform, who later were known to come from the 8th Infantry Division, Philippine Army (PA) under the baton of Division Commander, MGen. Mario Chan.

Sgt. Edcel Regie Amoto claimed it was his 8th time to donate blood, since 2010, and contrary to anyone’s worry, he said he felt much better after the transfusion. Like Dr. Mabulay, he just gave 450cc of type “O” blood. Sgt. Amoto was followed by his comrades-in-arm and still another truckload of young soldiers arrived as of press time, all eager to help government in saving lives by donating blood.

Meanwhile, Ms. Nilda Quiero, the Red Cross’ competent and graceful Medical Technician (MedTech), assured the donors that the Card they receive after the transfusion, will entitle them or their family member, to receive blood, in case they will need some in the future.  They were also gifted with Red Cross T-shirts. Ms. Quiro, extracted blood as though she was a young girl in a play-house’s kitchen, enjoying cookery with friends.

Dubbed “Dugo ko, Kinabuhi Mo” [My Blood, Your Life] was part of Civil Service Commission’s month-long program for the 111th Founding Anniversary. The Field Office is headed by Director Cyril-Nathan SM. Eamiguel.

The blood-letting campaign found the following data, as gathered by the Red Cross Team: Type “O” donors-17; Type “A” donors-13; Type “B”-14 and Type “AB”-2. Of the total donors, 24 were Army soldiers, eight policemen and 14 were civilians.