AMVI holds annual voluntary blood donation for Red Cross beneficiaries
Tubay, Agusan del Norte / May 2017 – The yearly blood donation drive conducted by the Philippine National Red Cross and Agata Mining Ventures Inc. (AMVI) kicked-off with an early start last April 17 at the company’s field office in Barangay Lawigan, Tubay Municipality of this province. This year, over 50 employees and mining contractor personnel donated 22,950 cc of blood in support of PNRC and the vast number of beneficiaries who direly need it. To date, AMVI’s blood donations to the Red Cross since 2015 have already reached 67,500 cc or equivalent to 17 gallons.
Dr. Nonie Erigbuagas, the examining physician of this year’s bloodletting activity expressed her admiration. It is really notable for such a company to dedicate time and resources – human resources – just to conduct this life-saving event. It is really worth emulating for other private entities what AMVI has been consistently portraying.
Health Standards
Just like in previous years, the PNRC imposed strict guidelines for qualification as an eligible blood donor. High-blood pressure, lack of sleep, menstrual periods, recent foreign travel, scheduled flights within the past 24 hours and a very physical nature of work disqualified several donors.
Nonetheless, the activity was able to collect significant quantities of blood that will not only help save lives but also give each donor valuable health benefits in terms of improved blood circulation and cardio-vascular function.
In July last year, the Red Cross acknowledged the company among its Outstanding Corporate Supporters for its consistent contribution to its various activities. AMVI has received recognition from the PNRC as one of the top private companies that has the most blood donations and became the only one in the mining industry in the region that received such an award.
Also in the past year, the company provided a total of 6,850 free medical consultations to patients in its beneficiary communities and an additional 6,000 more to its employees, contractors and dependents.
These free medical services were administered by nursing staff and the company doctor at the AMVI Clinic in Barangay Lawigan, Tubay Municipality.
Lifeblood
AMVI supports successful multi-sectoral partnerships such as its collaboration with the Philippine National Red Cross, Rotary Club and the local government unit to which it contributed blood from voluntary donors.
In addition to the PNRC, the company has also consistently played a major supporting role in the nationwide Dugong Bombo last year. The delegation of donors from AMVI, which sponsored the event in Butuan City, participated in the campaign that generated 4,250 cc of blood from various donors while the nationwide campaign collected over 3.5 million cc of blood.
AMVI and Bombo Radyo have been public affairs partners even prior to the mining company’s operations in Tubay, Jabonga and Santiago Municipalities. To date, both organizations have spearheaded and supported public health and welfare initiatives that have benefitted various publics in the Caraga Region.
Same bloodline
AMVI continues the TVIRD tradition of uplifting the community’s health standards through strategic programs and partnerships with key organizations. At the height of its operations, TVIRD conducted several blood donation activities in partnership with the Red Cross, earning the recognition of being the organization’s leading supporter in the Zamboanga Peninsula.
Moreover, TVIRD’s Health and Sanitation Program established a 24/7 lying-in clinic operated by full-time doctors, nurses and midwives and received close to 14,000 consultations and admissions every year.
On its part, AMVI programs under its Social Development and Management Program include the improvement of barangay health centers, increasing medicine supplies and providing additional medical equipment for community health centers.
AMVI also actively initiated medical missions and likewise supported public health-oriented activities of media partners, Bombo Radyo and Radio Mindanao Network (RMN) since 2014. This year, the company draws more focus on social programs to elevate the living standards of its host communities.
*******