Rotary Club of Waling-Waling Davao conducts blood donation

DAVAO CITY — An officer of Task Force Davao, an elite military group tasked with protecting the city from terror attacks and other crimes, set aside his firearms to donate blood for the 15th time.

While a seaman, just back for a vacation from a job that has taken him around the world numerous times, walked in, rolled up his sleeves, and readily gave blood, too.

These were just some of the many selfless acts from nameless donors who came to participate in the Rotary Club of Waling-Waling Davao’s (RCWWD) recently concluded blood- letting activity, dubbed as “Saling Dugo, Saling Buhay” at the Gig Oca Robles Seamen’s Hospital here.

For the last 10 years, RCWWD has been spearheading the project and for this year’s staging, it was joined by 17 other Rotary Clubs in Zone 2 of District 3860 which supported the project together with the Task Force Davao, Philippine Air Force, Philippine National Police and the Philippine Coast Guard.

“What were just a few minutes of simple and safe blood extraction, through the professional job from the health personnel of Davao Blood Center, headed by Dr. Orlando Ong with the able support of Ms. Judy Negasca, is now the living hope for many patients whose lives depend on blood to be transfused,” said RCWWD President Dr. Corina Guerrero.

According to Guerrero, what made the activity more meaningful was that the blood donors, themselves, were proud in knowing that they will be able to save lives.

And making the act more noble was that many of those who donated blood chose not to be identified or just asked to be known by their surnames – like Mr. Mrlgnalan from Task Force Davao and Mr. Yap, the seaman.

Rotary Club of Waling-Waling Davao was founded in 1991 and is composed of civic-minded women coming from business sector and professionals. It is a multi-awarded club in this city, having had implemented service-oriented projects, such as elevating the marginalized status of mothers and children, addressing the needs of abandoned streetchildren, undertaking tetanus immunization projects and vocational employment program for blind masseurs, among many others.