Zamboanga City – A total of 46,850 cubic centimeters (cc) of blood was donated by the soldiers of the Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom) and other volunteers solely for dengue patients of Zamboanga.
In a statement, Maj. Arvin John Encinas, Westmincom spokesperson, said the blood donations were successfully collected during the two bloodletting activities held at the Westmincom headquarters and the Army’s 602nd Infantry Brigade in Carmen, North Cotabato.
Encinas said the blood donations came from personnel of the Naval Forces Western Mindanao, Tactical Operations Wing-Western Mindanao, the Army’s 74th Infantry Battalion, and Universidad de Zamboanga students.
Encinas also added the Westmincom, through the Office of the Assistant Chief of Unified Command Staff for Civil-Military Operations, gathered 46 bags or 23,000 ccs of blood in the bloodletting activity in Camp Navarro last Thursday.
The bloodletting activity held at the Army’s 602 Infantry Brigade headquarters on Tuesday was able to generate the remaining 23,850 cc of blood.
On the other hand, the first bloodletting activity in Camp Navarro was held on July 23, where 42,300 cc of blood were successfully collected.
The Rotary Club of Zamboanga, Ticket 1, Philippine Red Cross, and Universidad de Zamboanga joined Westmincom to ensure the success of the bloodletting activity.
“We are one in the fight against the proliferating cases of dengue in the entire country,” said by Lt. Gen. Cirilito Sobejana, Westmincom chief. He also assured that the military will always respond to the needs of the people just to save their lives.
Sobejana further explained the series of activities were made possible in partnership with other organizations to stop the increasing cases of dengue fever and the blood supply shortage. (RJ Espartinez)