By: JOEL PINEDA JAQUINTA

The Municipality of E. B. Magalona awarded as top local government unit in the entire Province of Negros Occidental in the performance of the National Voluntary Blood Services Program of the Department of Health.

In a recent Regional Sandugo Awarding 2019 ceremony held in Iloilo City, Dr. Edmundo L. Janeo Jr., Municipal Health Officer together with Sanguniang Bayan Member Edgardo Agravante Jr., Chairman Committee on Health representing Hon. Mayor M. Marvin received the plaque of appreciation and Fifty Thousand Pesos from the Department of Health Center for Health Development Western Visayas.

Sandugo award is given to local government units, private sectors and individuals in acknowledgement of their contributions and support to the National Voluntary Blood Services Program of the Department of Health.

“This award is a pride of every Barangay Council, Barangay Health Workers, volunteers and blood donors achieved for 3 consecutive years now”. “Every year, with our consistent campaign and education we keep on increasing in terms of volunteer donor and volume of blood extracted, Dr. Janeo added.

Mayor Marvin Malacon expressed his undying support to every programs the local health unit undertakes together with the Department of Health. “Blood is life, every single drip of blood donated can save life”, Mayor Malacon said. “We will institutionalize this program so that we can sustain the demand of blood needed for our constituents and contribute to the blood banks operated by Philippine National Red Cross (PNRC), Negros First Blood Bank and Corazon Locsin Montelibano Memorial Regional Hospital (CLMMRH) needed in times of emergency”, Mayor Malacon added.  

Record from the Municipal Health Office shows that Barangay Alacaygan exemplary topped other 22 Barangays in terms of target and accomplishment with 363%, followed by Barangay Batea with 343% accomplishment and Barangay Sto. Nino with 318% accomplishment. In 2018, about 1,307 bags of blood extracted from donor volunteers of which 261 bags were used in different medical and emergency needs of Saraviahanon.