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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider PH Red Cross cites difficulties in obtaining rare RH negative blood types

PH Red Cross cites difficulties in obtaining rare RH negative blood types

Published Aug 17, 2021 11:22 pm

As it continues to dispense blood even during the Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) period, the Philippine Red Cross (PRC) said that its blood supply continues to dwindle - especially the rare RH negative blood type.

(FILE PHOTO / PHILIPPINE RED CROSS)

“The entire Red Cross organization is busy battling the pandemic through our RT-PCR testing, vaccination programs, and food trucks to affected communities, but the need for blood never stops,” PRC Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Senator Richard Gordon said in a statement on Tuesday, Aug. 17.

Even during the imposition of ECQ in Metro Manila and other areas, PRC said that it continues to provide patients with much needed blood.

However, PRC said that its supplies are “dwindling” with less people donating blood due to the restrictions. “Difficulties in obtaining rare RH Negative blood types are also being experienced,” the humanitarian organization said.

Given this, Gordon is appealing to people with RH negative blood to “donate if able and save the lives of our countrymen in need.” “Ngayon mas kailangan ng tao ang ligtas at abot-kayang dugo. Kaya naman tuloy-tuloy lang ang Red Cross (Now more than ever, people need safe and affordable blood more. That's why the Red Cross never stops),” Gordon said.

Even with the shortage of donors, PRC said that it was able to manage to serve 186 individuals in need of safe and life-saving blood as of Aug. 16 alone.

“Gaya ng paghihikayat ko sa inyo na magpatest at magpabakuna, hinihikayat ko rin kayong mag donate ng dugo para makatulong sa mga kababayan nating may kailangan nito. Lalo ngayon ng pandemic at ECQ sa ibang lugar sa ating bansa (Just as I encourage you to get tested and vaccinated, I also encourage you to donate blood to help our countrymen in need especially now a pandemic and ECQ in different parts of the country),” he added.

Even as blood donorship dwindles due to the pandemic, PRC has managed to collect 28,046 units of blood in the month of July 2021. It also managed to serve 91,372 patients in need of blood from January to July of this year.

“The PRC National Blood Service is serving the people given the difficult circumstances brought by COVID, but more blood donors are needed,” the humanitarian organization said.

Those who want to donate blood may access visit www.redcross.org.ph/give-blood for more information.

Related Tags

blood Philippine Red Cross Blood donation RH negative blood type covid-19 richard gordon PRC
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