Army leads blood donation drive for dengue victims

By: Dolly Yasa

Bacolod City – The Philippine Army in Negros Occidental heeded Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson’s call for blood donations for dengue victims.

The Army’s 303rd Infantry Brigade (303IB) led a blood donation drive with the provincial government at the Panaad Park and Stadium last week.

Brigadier General Benedict Arevalo, 303IB commander, said the event was a simple and meaningful way of extending help to the people of Negros.

Arevalo said the event was also in line with the orders of Lieutenant General Macairog Alberto, commanding general of Philippine Army, and 3rd Infantry Division commander Major General Dinoh Dolina to support similar calls made by the Department of Health.

Aside from the event at the Panaad Park, other Army units under the 303IB like the 62nd Infantry Battalion also held bloodletting drives at La Carlota City and the town of Isabela.

A total of 220 volunteers participated in the activity and produced 145 bags of blood.

Based on data gathered by the provincial government from January to July, a total of 1,884 dengue patients are admitted in 11 provincial government-run hospitals in Negros Occidental.