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BARMM celebrates World Blood Donor Day thru blood letting activity
Cotabato City (June 17, 2020)—In celebration of World Blood Donor Day, the Bangsamoro Government’s Ministry of Health (MOH), in partnership with the Cotabato Regional Medical Center (CRMC), conducted a mobile blood donation activity on Wednesday, June 17 at the Bangsamoro Government Center in Cotabato City.
Health Minister Dr. Saffrullah Dipatuan, who was also a blood donor during the activity, said the celebration was intended to give special appreciation to voluntary non-remunerated blood donors or those who give their blood without asking for any payment.
He further stressed that the celebration is also a way of raising awareness on the global need for safe blood and encourage more people to donate freely.
“Indeed, blood donors help save millions of lives every year,” Dr. Dipatuan noted.
“We want to establish a solidarity act which encourages every family, in a spirit of unity, collaboration and empowerment, to voluntarily donate blood and make it as a way of life,” he added.
World Blood Donor Day is celebrated annually every 14th day of June. This year’s celebration carried the theme “Dugoyanihan: Isang Pamilya, Isang Lahi, Isang Bansa.”
Wednesday’s activity was also in pursuant to Republic Act 7719 also known as National Blood Services act of 1994, “an act promoting voluntary blood donation, providing for an adequate supply of safe blood, regulating blood banks, and providing penalties for violation thereof.”
The activity was attended by MOH staff, and CRMC Blood Center Head Dr. Sherjan Kalim and his team. At least 43 bags of blood were collected from donors from the different ministries and offices of BARMM. The bags will be turned over to the blood center of CRMC. (Bureau of Public Information)
BARMM provides aid to victims of mortar shelling; justice, a primary concern
(Right) Health Minister Dr. Saffrullah Dipatuan visited and provided financial assistance to mortar shelling victims on May 26.
Cotabato City(May 31, 2020) – The Bangsamoro Government, through its Ministry of Health (MOH), has provided cash assistance to the casualties and affected families of the mortar shelling incident in Datu Saudi Ampatuan in Maguindanao.
MOH Minister Dr. Saffrullah Dipatuan on May 26, gave P50,000.00 cash to the family of the two (2) minors who died during the incident; P30,000.00 each to seven (7) of the victims who are badly injured; and P5,000.00 to each of the nine (9) individuals who sustained minor wounds.
Some of the victims are currently confined at the Cotabato Regional and Medical Center (CRMC) and Maguindanao Provincial Hospital (MPH).
The minister said this is part of the Bangsamoro Government’s vow to provide the needed assistance of the victims.
“Inutusan kami ng ating mahal na chief minister (Ahod Al Haj Murad Ebrahim) na kung ano man ang maitulong ng bawat ministry ng BARMM ay dapat naming gawin. Kaya ngayon ay nagtutulungan kami,” Dipatuan said.
[Our beloved Chief Minister Ahod Al Haj Murad Ebrahim has directed each of the ministries of BARMM to do whatever it can to help. So now we are working together.]
The hospitalization of the patients will also be covered by the Bangsamoro Government’s project AMBAG (Ayudang Medikal Mula sa Bangsamoro Government), as Chief Minister Ebrahim wants the patients to be free from their medical expenses.
Dipatuan said some of the patients need to undergo orthopedic surgery due to severe injury.
He also said, “kasama rin natin ang ating mga religious leaders para dun sa spritual counseling na kailangan maibigay sa mga biktima.”
[Our religious leaders will also conduct spiritual counseling that needs to be provided to the victims.]
According to BARMM Chief Minister Ahod Balawag Ebrahim, extending assistance is not the main solution. He said that “the provision of assistance to the victims is just part of our efforts. Our primary concern is to ensure that justice is given to all the victims, especially the mother who lost her 2 daughters and that this will not be repeated. That is why our immediate response after the tragic incident was to demand an impartial investigation.”
Early on, the Bangsamoro Government, with the help of the authorities, has started the conduct of investigation in pursuit of justice for the victims.
On May 30, over 600 relief packs were distributed to the affected families through the Bangsamoro Government’s Project Tabang (Tulong Alay sa Bangsamorong Nangangailangan).
Moreover, the BARMM’s Ministry of Social Services and Development (MSSD) has conducted psycho-social activities for affected children and families from Barangay Kitango to help them ease their fear and to relieve their anxiety and stress.
MSSD also provided cash assistance to the family of the two minors who were killed , and to the 15 others who were injured. The ministry also distributed food packs to the 1,573 families or 7,865 individuals who were forced to flee their homes from barangays Dapiawan, Elian, and Kitango.
MOH-BARMM appoints 73 Community Midwives from Maguindanao
Bangsamoro Government’s Ministry of Health (MOH-BARMM) led the orientation and signing of appointment of 73 midwifery personnel from Maguindanao on Tuesday, May 19, at the MOH Training Center, in Cotabato City. BARMM’s Minister of Health Dr. Saffrullah Dipatuan led Tuesday’s oath-taking ceremony of newly appointed midwives, including 10 others coming from BARMM regional offices. “Isa sa mga goals natin ay lagyan nang Barangay Health Station [with complete facilities and free equipment] ang bawat barangay sa Bangsamoro region para sa mga midwife and you will be deployed to such,” he added. 
The newly appointed midwives belong to Midwife in Every Community in BARMM-2 (MECBA-2). MOH-BARMM also plans to hire more than 100 midwives in the region, and encourages midwives to apply to become part of Human Resources for health and deployment program. Meanwhile, Ehsan D. Paudac, Head of MECBA announced that members of MECBA-1 and MECBA-2 will receive a sum of P10, 000 as Emergency Relief Assistance Allowance (ERRA) provided by MOH. Simultaneously, 38 midwifery personnel from the province of Basilan and the City of Lamitan took their oath around 9 am today in the said province. (Bureau of Public Information)
