Dumaguete city: The Department of Health (DOH) is engaging key stakeholders and partner-facilities in establishing a strong and sustainable blood program network for the Negros Island Region (NIR). Data on Monday showed 26,337 total blood units have been collected from January to June this year across the region, comprising Negros Occidental, Negros Oriental, Siquijor, and highly-urbanized Bacolod City. There were 13,396 units of blood collection in the first quarter and 12,941 units in the second quarter.

According to Philippines News Agency, the establishment of the blood program services in the NIR was discussed during the initial inter-regional integrative meeting held in Dumaguete City earlier this month. The DOH-NIR emphasized that this initiative is a vital step in strengthening blood services and ensuring a safe, reliable, and sufficient blood supply for the people of the Negros Island Region.

To achieve a strong and sustainable blood program network for the region, the DOH-NIR gathered key stakeholders in blood services. These include the Corazon Locsin Montelibano Memorial Regional Hospital and the Negros First Provincial Blood Center, both based in Bacolod City, along with their respective blood services networks in this city and Negros Occidental; and the Sub-National Blood Center for Visayas and its partner-facilities.

The meeting, co-facilitated by the DOH Disease Prevention and Control Bureau-National Voluntary Blood Services Program, was held in collaboration with the DOH Western Visayas and Central Visayas regional health offices.