PH Red Cross provides assistance to FIBA player with rare blood type
The Philippine Red Cross (PRC) immediately provided two bags of a rare blood type after receiving a blood request from the player's national team following an injury sustained during a FIBA World Cup game that required an emergency operation.

PRC on Friday, Sept. 1 said a player needed an emergency operation on the morning of Aug. 31 and required an A negative (A-) blood type for transfusion.
As a host country of the 2023 FIBA World Cup, PRC Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Richard Gordon said that the organization is supportive of all delegates.
“Because time is of the essence in a medical emergency, every large gathering, such as the FIBA, should have emergency medical services such as pre-hospital treatment, ambulances, and reserve blood supply, including rare blood,” Gordon said.
For her part, PRC Secretary-General Dr. Gwen Pang said that an adequate supply of safe, high-quality blood products and a registry of rare blood type donors are essential for the country to be prepared for medical emergencies.
PRC Blood Services Director Dr. Christie Monina Nalupta noted that less than one percent of the Philippine population has A negative Rhesus (Rh), and not all of them are blood donors.