Blood is an essential fluid circulating in the human body that is responsible for the distribution of oxygen and nutrients, and to remove waste as well. The four main components of the blood are:Plasma, which covers over half of the total blood volume; Red Blood Cells (RBCs or erythrocytes), which carry oxygen to the body’s tissues; White Blood Cells (WBCs or leukocytes), which protects the body from infection; and Platelets (thrombocytes), small cells which help in blood clot or coagulation. These are the components that are affected when an individual has a blood disease. Among the commonblood diseases are anemia, leukemia, and hemophilia. 

Read more about the types of blood diseases HERE.

The month of September is declared as Blood Diseases Month by virtue of Proclamation No. 1833, s. 2009 signed by former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. It is stated that “blood diseases related to nutrition and environmental conditions continue to increase in prevalence and pose serious effects to the Filipino people; WHEREAS, the measures and strategies in the prevention, treatment and rehabilitation of blood diseases should be extensively and aggressively pursued to reduce the incidence and deaths related to blood diseases…“.