Monetary donations poured into the Philippine Red Cross (PRC) for its COVID-19 Samaritan program to ensure that individuals who cannot afford the COVID-19 testing fees could get tested.
(MANILA BULLETIN FILE PHOTO)
Senator Richard Gordon, PRC chairman and CEO, said there is a need to ramp up testing to ensure victory over the pandemic COVID-19 and the COVID-19 Samaritan program would help achieve this since those who can’t afford the testing fee would be paid for from funds donated to the institution.
“Kailangan ma-test ang mga tao para manalo tayo laban sa (the people should be tested so we can win the fight against) COVID. This way, carriers can be separated from those who are not infected and they can be cured,” Gordon said in a statement.
“At maaari na ring makabalik sa trabaho kapag na-test. Kaya sinimulan namin ang programang ito para pati ‘yung mga hindi kayang magbayad, maaaring makapagpa-test, (And as such, the people can return to work after they get tested. That’s why we started this program so those who can’t pay can still be tested),” he said.
Among those who made a donation included the Automobile Association of the Philippines (AAP), thru Jose Armando Eduque. AAP donated €50,000 or almost P2.8-million for the said program.
Gordon also said Reckitt Benckiser Healthcare Philippines, Inc. (Lysol Philippines), joined the program and gave a donation last May.
Half of their donation would go to the COVID-19 Samaritan program to be used for testing women and the elderly who cannot pay for their tests and the other half for the construction of a molecular laboratory in Cagayan de Oro.
“We cannot be a nation unless we help those who are deprived but are willing to fight,” he said.
“Those who want to give to the poor so they can be tested can donate funds,” Gordon added.
The PRC also has similar programs such as the Blood Samaritan for those who need blood but cannot afford it.
PRC also opened a Dialysis Samaritan program for those who need to undergo dialysis; and the General Good Samaritan to help treat people with other illnesses.