More than 80 people registered and donated blood during “Dugong Bughaw,” a blood-letting campaign at the University’s Thibault Grounds, Friday morning, July 31, which was part of the celebration of the Feast of St. Ignatius of Loyola.

The blood-letting campaign was a joint partnership between the School of Nursing, University Clinic Matina and Jacinto Campus, Ateneo de Davao University Grade School Community Association (AGSCA), ADPTCI, University Community Engagement and Advocacy Council (UCEAC), Philippine Nursing Students Association (PNSA), and the Samahan Central Board.

The blood donors first undergone vital medical tests before going into the blood-letting process to ensure the blood being donated to the blood bank will be clean and suitable for future medical usage.

Volunteers from the Philippine Red Cross, the University Clinic, and the School of Nursing (SoN) helped in facilitating the blood-letting process among the registered donors.

Leticia Caballero, one of the donors of Dugong Bughaw, said she felt proud and she hoped the donated blood will be helpful in addressing the needs especially for medical use.

Atty. Arnold Cruz Abejaron, executive secretary of UCEAC, said, “We call this ‘Dugong Bughaw’ because we pride ourselves to be blue-blooded. The activity though is intended to help address the problem of blood shortages sa ating mga blood banks.”

Abejaron also said after the blood-letting campaign, he expects to raise enough supply of blood based on the target supply of 250 bags of blood (150 bags from the Matina Campus and 100 bags in the Jacinto Campus).