After an overwhelming turnout for blood donation drives, medical authorities and volunteers are now urgently appealing for human milk donors to support infants most vulnerable in the ongoing crisis following the recent 6.9-magnitude earthquake in Northern Cebu.Over the course of two days, October 2 and 3, more than 1,100 individuals responded to the call for blood, resulting in 860 units collected at Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center (VSMMC) alone.
These donations are being distributed free of charge to patients in need, in line with the Department of Health’s Zero Balance Billing (ZBB) policy.
Additional mobile blood drives organized by the DOH Subnational Blood Center for Visayas yielded another 475 units across multiple sites, including the DOH CVCHD, Zuellig Pharma Corp., WCE Balamban, and community centers in Basak-Pardo and Talisay.
A separate campaign gathered 173 more units, bringing the total to more than 1,500 units of blood collected in just three days.
The response was so strong that VSMMC announced adjustments to its blood collection schedule to manage resources and ensure optimal use.
Walk-in donors on October 3 were accepted only until 4:00 p.m., with later slots reserved for pre-registered donors.
The next blood donation activities are scheduled for October 11 and 18, with donor processing from 7:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
With the blood supply stabilized, attention has now turned to the nutritional needs of infants-particularly those under six months old-who face heightened risks due to disrupted access to clean water and safe feeding alternatives.
Health officials said that breastfeeding remains the safest and most reliable source of nourishment in emergencies and are urging lactating mothers to consider donating breastmilk.
In an advisory issued by VSMMC, the hospital emphasized that formula milk donations are discouraged because of the increased risk of infection from diarrhea, pneumonia, and other illnesses when clean water is unavailable.
Instead, the public is encouraged to provide cooked meals and ready-to-eat food to support families and sustain lactating mothers.
For mothers who are able, the appeal is clear: donate breastmilk and help save lives.
The VSMMC Human Milk Bank Unit is accepting donations daily from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Interested donors may contact the following numbers for coordination: 0929-560-1087 (Human Milk Bank Unit), 0927-872-4132 (Nurse Erin), 0933-865-0904 (Nurse Anna), and 0947-643-8520 (VSMMC Breastfeeding Support Group).
The shift from blood to breastmilk underscores the evolving nature of Cebu’s disaster response-one rooted not only in emergency care but also in long-term recovery and community solidarity.
From students and senior citizens to health workers and volunteers, the outpouring of support has revealed a deep reservoir of compassion and resilience.
As VSMMC puts it, ‘Rebuilding begins not only with bricks and plans, but with the fierce, human kindness that binds us.’