As per Baclig (2022), the most common blood diseases in the Philippines are the following: anemia, hemophilia, and leukemia. Anemia is defined as a condition where the body does not have enough red blood cells. Hemophilia denotes that one's blood cannot clot properly. Then, leukemia is commonly known as the cancer of the blood where there are more white blood cells produced compared to red blood cells. Severe cases of such require blood transfusions to mitigate the effects of abnormality present, to either remove to add constituents to the blood of the patient. Moreover, as mentioned in the description of the question, the prevalence of Malaria, trauma-related incidents, and possible seasonal-related complications can heighten the risk that such compromised people may suffer from. Such will ultimately increase the need for blood, and donors alike.

Moreover, cultural beliefs, even though being increasingly recognized in counseling process, can be a hindrance in risk prevention in such diseases. It can lead to patients only resorting to asking for medical attention when the disease had already progressed to worse stages. This will introduce another avenue of a larger need in blood transfusions, which can be prevented in the first place (Abad, P., et al., 2014).

References:

Abad, P., et al. (2014). Cultural beliefs on disease causation in the Philippines: challenge and implications in genetic counseling. PubMed. Retrieved April 11, 2024 from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4159471/

Baclig, C. (2022). Blood diseases’ toll on thousands of Filipino lives. Inquirer. Retrieved April 11, 2024 from https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1672474/blood-diseases-toll-on-thousands-of-filipino-lives

The need for blood transfusions has increased due to numerous medical advancements that have improved the treatment of major illnesses and injuries. These transfusions are necessary for patients to survive, support their recovery, or preserve their health. The major causes of death are no longer infectious diseases but rather surgery, trauma, and malignancies, all of which have a high likelihood of requiring a blood transfusion (NCBI, 2010).

In accordance to WHO (2012), with the increasing life expectancy and the subsequent increase in the number of age-related, chronic diseases, including cancers, that require blood and blood products for treatment, the country increasingly need more blood donors in order to meet these demands.

Refrences:

NCBI (2010). Voluntary Blood Donation: A Global Framework for Action. Retrieved on April 11, 2024, from, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK305666/

WHO (2012). WHO needs more regular blood donors as global demand for blood rises. Retrieved on April 11, 2024, from https://www.pchrd.dost.gov.ph/news_and_updates/who-needs-more-regular-blood-donors-as-global-demand-for-blood-rises/

With the Philippines' several environmental risk factors and inconsistent preventive practices, in addition to urbanization, increasing population, inadequate public health infrastructure, poor solid waste management, and lack of an effective mosquito surveillance system, dengue fever has become a continuous health problem in the country (Edillo et al., 2015). It is prevalent among children considering that their immune systems are weaker than those of adults. Potentially, severe dengue cases may lead to severe bleeding and a huge drop in platelets, necessitating blood transfusions to replenish depleted blood volume and restore clotting capabilities.

More notably, this outbreak escalates during and following the rainy season. The Philippines, due to its geographic location and proximity to the Western Pacific and the Pacific Ring of Fire, is prone to calamities such as earthquakes and typhoons (PAGASA, n.d.). Hence, aside from the dengue outbreak, these disasters can also result in traumatic injuries requiring the need for blood. When it happens that these two—dengue outbreaks and injuries/accidents escalate, the number of hospitalized individuals will rise, causing an increased demand for blood transfusions to aid these patients, especially those requiring intensive care or surgical interventions.

References:

Edillo, F., Halasa, Y., Largo, F., Erasmo, J., Amoin, N., Alera, M., Yoon, I., Alcantara, A., & Shepard, D. (2015). Economic cost and burden of dengue in the Philippines. Am J Trop Med Hyg, 92(2), 360–366. https://doi.org/10.4269/ajtmh.14-0139

Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration. (n.d.). About Tropical Cyclones. https://www.pagasa.dost.gov.ph/information/about-tropical-cyclone