By Cyrus A. Natividad

A Red Cross Volunteer extracts blood from a donor.

This year’s Blood Olympics activity held at Central Philippine University has generated a higher volume of blood donation compared to the previous year. Philippine Red Cross Iloilo Chapter Representatives Joji Esper Marmolejo-Autajay, CPU-RN (CSR Health Services), and Kim Bryan Diez, RN, Blood Donor Recruitment Officer (PRC-Western Visayas Regional Blood Center) attributed the increase to the enthusiastic support of students, faculty and staff of the university, and the active partnership of PRC and CPU in the blood donation drive.

In an interview with the PRC representatives on CPU TV’s Looking Forward, Marmolejo and Diez recounted the support and role of Central Philippine University to the success of Iloilo Red Cross operations for 16 years. They also acknowledged the instrumental role of Jojee Roy T. Juarez, CPU Internet Services Administrator and Director of the CPU College Red Cross Youth, for the blood donation drives of PRC through the years.

Donors sign up for registration at the 2019 Blood Olympics.

In the same interview, James Peter T. Trasporto, OIC – Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs, likewise acknowledged “that the partnership of CPU with Philippine Red Cross has done much in sustaining emergency response for preciously needed blood donations”. The talk show also touched on the critical issue of Dengue outbreak and preventive measures needed by the University to protect the students and everyone in the campus.

Due to the need for precious blood supply during dengue situations, the Philippine Red Cross and Central Philippine University proactively hold blood donation campaign drives such as the annual Blood Olympics.