DOH-V exec bolsters voluntary blood donation, healthy living in BUCN
DOH-PPHA President Windalyn Baluis speaks at the first bloodletting orientation spearheaded by the Red Cross Youth Council of Bicol University College of Nursing.
Furthering the importance of voluntary blood donation and healthy lifestyle with the region’s Department of Health (DOH)–Philippine Public Health Association (PPHA) President Windalyn Baluis, the Red Cross Youth Council (RCY) of Bicol University College of Nursing (BUCN) conducts its first bloodletting orientation that was held on June 25.
The orientation was mainly intended for the donors to know the benefits and facts of voluntary blood donation, but Baluis persisted to discuss factors that affect the human blood, such as healthy living.
Baluis underscored the essence and implication of voluntary blood donating in line with the National Voluntary Blood Services Act of 1994 or the Republic Act (RA) 7719.
“This law was created in order to curb the hazards caused by the rampant commercialism or paid donation. Voluntary blood donors have achieved the true objectives of blood donation,” she said.
She said that in order for one to become an ideal blood donor, he or she must practice healthy lifestyle in order to prevent lifestyle-related diseases, such as lung cancer.
“Prevention is still the best. That’s why we have this campaign for a smoke-free environment,” she said.
She also said in her speech that lung cancer is placing third in the top 10 leading causes of mortality, adding that such ailment is highly associated with smoking.
“Do not smoke, engage in physical exercises, and eat healthy food in order for you to be healthy,” she stressed. “We may have a lot of fast food chains all over the place, but the kind of food they serve is never recommended for us.”
Recalling her daughter who she always reminds to not eat a lot, Baluis also highlighted obesity as something that is connected to the cardiovascular system and diabetes.
“For women, our waistline should only be up to 30.5. If you exceed that, consider yourself obese,” she said. “Healthy lifestyle is a choice. The decision comes with you and you need to start with you.”
