The Philippine Red Cross (PRC) on Thursday, May 30, emphasized its efforts in dealing with Covid-19 in the country.

“People don’t realize it, but the Philippine Red Cross did its best to minimize the loss of lives from Covid-19,” said PRC chairman and Chief Executive Officer Richard J. Gordon.
During the World Disaster Report (WDR) Forum, which focused on the Covid-19 pandemic, the PRC enumerated its efforts in addressing this global issue.
The PRC said that amid the chaotic situation at the height of the pandemic, it responded swiftly by offering very affordable reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) saliva and swab tests nationwide through its molecular laboratories.
The organization also distributed personal protective equipment (PPEs) and facemasks to frontliners, organizations, and vulnerable groups.
The PRC also established medical tents and emergency facilities in hospitals, isolation facilities in schools, and temporary shelters for stranded passengers.
In the Philippines, the virus killed over 65,000 people
Approximately 14.1 million individuals benefited from the PRC’s overall emergency response to Covid-19.
Meanwhile, PRC Secretary-General Dr. Gwen Pang pointed out that PRC’s Covid-19 response was an unprecedented success, made possible through the support of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, staff, volunteers, donors, agencies, and partners.
In the WDR Forum, held at Makati Shangri-La, the PRC recognized the contributions of stakeholders.
The event was attended by officials from various sectors, including Megaworld, Okada Manila, Asia United Bank, Security Bank, Ayala Malls, the Australian Embassy, the European Union, and the Government of Japan.
Moreover, International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) President Kate Forbes joined the WDR Forum and delivered a keynote speech on emergency preparedness, discussing what the world can do to prevent, prepare for, respond to, and recover from disasters and disease outbreaks.
Forbes, the second woman to head the IFRC since its founding in 1919 in Paris, visited the Philippines on May 28 and is set to leave on May 31.