PRC to public: Donate blood for dengue victims

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine Red Cross on Wednesday appealed to the public to continue supporting the dengue patients in provinces of Cavite and Bulacan where the cases steadily rise.

PRC Chair Richard Gordon called on the public to continue to donate blood throughout the PRC's nationwide network of 27 blood centers and 82 blood banks.

These donated blood can be shipped to dengue-hit areas, he said. 

"We urge the public to give blood to the PRC or to hospitals. It's literally a matter of life and death for dengue patients to get enough supply to replace what they've lost as the disease runs its course," Gordon said.

To date, the PRC already accounts for 52 percent of the Philippines's medical blood needs.

Gordon also sought more PRC volunteers to enroll under the body's 143 Program that seeks to have at least 144 health and disaster relief volunteers in every barangay. 

The PRC sent to Cavite two Rubb Halls or 100-bed hospital tents, with one already set up in the grounds of the General Emilio Aguinaldo Hospital in Trece Martires City. 

These will complement the Cavite health facilities that have been overwhelmed by almost 4,600 victims and the province's P12-million anti-dengue fund nearly exhausted. 

The PRC hospital tents are complete with blood supplies and other medical materials and equipment to treat dengue.

Meanwhile, PRC Secretary General Gwendolyn Pang also alerted other Red Cross Chapters for a possible increase in dengue cases in their areas.

“I ask our chapters in areas with increasing dengue cases to be constantly on alert and immediately report to our Operations Center at the national headquarters any disease outbreaks that would require our assistance,” said Pang.

Other areas that have recently reported increasing dengue cases include Zambales, Palawan, Isabela, Ilocos Sur, Abra, Ilocos Norte, Lanao Del Norte, La Union, and Olongapo City. 

Earlier this month, PRC sent 40 units of blood to Marinduque which also reported an increase in dengue cases.