Philippine Red Cross

PH Red Cross Provides Lifesaving Blood Products to Over 500 Patients Daily from January to May

Written on June 13, 2023. Posted in News and Events. Leave a Comment

Ahead of the World Blood Donor Day (WBDD) celebration on 14 June 2023 and the National Blood Donor Month (NBDM) in July, the Philippine Red Cross (PRC) reported that it served 79,634 patients needing blood products from January 1 to May 31, 2023, or over 500 per day on average. PRC’s 107 blood service facilities nationwide dispensed 143,086 blood units for these patients during the period.

According to PRC Chairman and CEO Richard J. Gordon, PRC’s blood services are “exceedingly significant” in meeting the needs of patients across the country. He also emphasized the need for blood products during disasters and emergencies. “PRC is one of the leading suppliers of blood products in the country. Our objective is to contribute to the country’s goal of having an adequate blood supply, which is crucial to any country’s health care system,” said Gordon.

This year’s WBDD and NBDM celebrations share the theme “Give blood, give plasma, share life, share often.”

“PRC has always been steadfast in its commitment to contribute to life-saving through blood service. Our goal is to promote adequate, safe, and quality blood supply. On behalf of the PRC, I thank our donors who share our vision,” said Dr. Gwendolyn Pang, secretary general of the PRC.

Please email the PRC National Blood Services at [email protected] or call 143 or (02) 8790-2300 for inquiries.

Gordon underscores need for enough blood supply during disasters

Written on August 4, 2022. Posted in News and Events. Leave a Comment

Philippine Red Cross (PRC) Chairman and CEO Richard J. Gordon underscored the need for enough blood supply as the premier humanitarian organization responded to people in need of emergency medical care in earthquake-hit Abra. The PRC sufficiently met the blood supply needs of casualties immediately after the impact of the 7.0 magnitude earthquake that hit Northern Luzon on July 27.

Chairman Gordon said that the foremost humanitarian organization in the country has enough blood supply for the needs of Abra, Ilocos Sur, and other areas affected by the quake. He added that Abra and Ilocos are major suppliers of blood. Chairman Gordon also assured the public that, “The PRC’s 102 blood service facilities nationwide are ready to assist in case of need.”

PRC reminded those who wish to donate blood of the qualifications: (1) Must be 16 to 65 years old, (2) Those who are 16 to 17 years old must have a written consent from a parent or guardian, (3) Must weigh at least 50 kilograms or 110 pounds, (4) Must have at least 5 hours of sleep the night before, (5) Must have no alcohol intake in the last 24 hours, and (6) Must have eaten before donating but without fatty food intake.

Female donors who have their monthly period may still donate blood, provided they pass the standard screening. A qualified person may donate blood every three months.

To request blood from the PRC, a hospital or doctor’s request must be presented. The PRC also delivers blood to decrease the transport expenses of those in need; they must send the blood request through Viber and submit the original to the person delivering the blood.

For blood donations, blood requests, and other inquiries, email the PRC National Blood Services at [email protected] or contact the PRC Blood Call Center, which may be reached nationwide by dialing 143.

Philippine Red Cross Blood Services serves more than 100,000 patients from January to June this year

Written on June 30, 2022. Posted in News and Events.

From January 1 to June 26, 2022, the Philippine Red Cross (PRC) Blood Services served 110,215 patients. It collected 166,266 blood units from 155,997 donors and dispensed 191,696 blood units for the same period.

Dr. Monina Nalupta, Director of PRC’s Blood Services, stressed that donating blood is lifesaving. In an interview with CNN Philippines, Dr. Nalupta noted that there has been an increase in the number of blood donors this year, compared to 2020, when the humanitarian organization saw a 29% fall in blood units donated due to the COVID-19 mobility restrictions.

On the recipient side, mothers who recently delivered babies and are experiencing postpartum hemorrhage comprised 20% of the patients served.

Through the leadership of its Chairman and CEO, Senator Richard J. Gordon, the PRC now has 100 blood service facilities nationwide, making it one of the leading providers of blood and blood products in the country. The PRC continually promotes voluntary non-remunerated blood donations to maintain an adequate supply. “Napakahalaga para sa kahandaan ng ating bansa sa anumang insidente na tayo ay may sapat na suplay ng dugo,” Chairman Gordon said.

PRC LEADS THE GROUNDBREAKING OF THE SOON-TO-RISE BLOOD BANK IN STA. ROSA LAGUNA

Written on October 27, 2021. Posted in News and Events. Leave a Comment

The Philippine Red Cross (PRC) leads the groundbreaking ceremony of the new PRC Blood Bank that will soon rise in Sta. Rosa Laguna on October 27, 2021. The blood bank will serve the entire city and nearby cities such as Binan and San Pedro, Laguna, with a total population of 1,148, 250 as of 2020.

The groundbreaking ceremony will be attended virtually by PRC Chairman and CEO Sen. Dick Gordon, PRC Secretary General Elizabeth Zavalla, City Mayor Hon. Arlene Arcillas, Chairman of the Laguna Chapter Dir. Jaime B. Ching, Chapter Administrator Frank Gray M. Sorromero, and President of Isuzu Philippines Corporation Mr. Hajime Koso.

“Ako ay nagpapasalamat sa ating local government unit, donors, Board of Directors, staff, at volunteers sa inyong dedikasyon upang masimulan itong blood bank facility. Sa pamamagitan ng blood bank ay mas marami tayong matutulungan na higit na nangangailangan ng dugo. Mapapabilis din ang paghahatid ng services gaya ng blood services, disaster response, recovery, psychosocial first aid amongst others. Patuloy ang Philippine Red Cross sa pagtupad sa aming mantra to be always first, always ready, and always there kung saan nangangailangan ng tulong,” PRC Chairman and CEO Sen. Dick Gordon said.

PRC Laguna Chapter dispensed 71,640 units of blood from 2019 to September 2021. The soon-to-be-constructed blood bank will increase the chapter’s capacity to serve more individuals who need blood.

More than blood, the PRC Laguna Chapter started various initiatives to combat COVID-19. The PRC Laguna Chapter collected more than 5,995 saliva specimens in its saliva collection sites since opening in February 2021. The chapter also vaccinated more than 16,255 individuals in its Bakuna Centers and Bakuna Bus through the support of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC.)

The PRC Laguna Chapter continues to deliver its humanitarian services to alleviate human suffering and uplift the dignity of the most vulnerable community of Laguna.

Philippine Red Cross strengthens its commitment to deliver safe, quality, and adequate blood supply

Written on October 16, 2019. Posted in News and Events. Leave a Comment

The Philippine Red Cross (PRC) inaugurated its 96th blood service facility in the country in San Rafael, Bulacan, on October 14, a move that fortifies its commitment to deliver safe, quality, and adequate blood supply to Filipinos, notably, to the most vulnerable.

With the opening of this new blood station, PRC Chairman and CEO Richard Gordon said that many lives can be saved, especially now that many parts of the country are experiencing dengue epidemic.

“I’m very proud, and you Bulakeños, should also be proud to have another blood center here in your historical province that will serve the most vulnerable,”Gordon said during his opening remarks.

The P500,000-blood station, which is located in the Ricardo C. Silverio Building inside the new San Rafael Municipal Compound,is the 67th PRC blood collecting unit/bloodstation. It is equipped with a powerful microscope, state-of-the-art cold storage that can accommodate up to 300 units of blood bags, manned by well-trained PRC staff.

In order to save more lives and to meet the demands of Filipinos who are having difficulties acquiring blood, he appealed to the public,including Bulakeños, to regularly donate blood.

“It’s our commitment to serve more Filipinos and we aim to create more blood facilities in the future for easier access to quality blood supply. We want to reach the most vulnerable communities in the rural and far-flung areas to ensure that there is safe blood for all,” Gordon added.

PRC, as a major provider of blood needs in the country, served a total of 205,772 individuals in 2018.

Gordon also stressed the importance of the Seven Fundamental Principles of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies that should be observed by PRC staff and volunteers at all times.

Also present during the event were PRC – National Blood Service Director, Dr. Christie Monina M. Nalupta, San Rafael Mayor Cipriano Violago Jr., Bulacan 3rd District Rep. Lorna Silverio, PRC-Bulacan Chapter Administrator Ricardo Villacorte and PRC Bulacan Director and Blood Services Committee Chairman Irmingardo Antonio.

Gordon, PRC raise alarm over rising HIV cases in PH

Written on June 11, 2019. Posted in News and Events. Leave a Comment

Philippine Red Cross (PRC) Chairman Richard Gordon raises alarm over the rising cases of HIV this year—noting that lack of action may affect the supply of quality blood products in the country.

The Department of Health (DOH) recently reported that 38 new cases of HIV were recorded on a daily basis in 2019, a significant rise from the 32-per-day rate in 2018.

“I personally receive calls from people from different provinces, most of them crying and appealing for blood and we strive to meet their needs. If the number of HIV cases continues to rise, our country’s blood supply could be affected,” Gordon said.

This year, PRC is integrating a nucleic acid test (NAT) to its system to allow accurate and more sensitive detection of HIV contraction among applicant donors.

Gordon said PRC prioritizes the integration of NAT into its blood testing system in its blood service facilities in the National Capital Region, where 30 percent of the new cases were registered.

“NAT testing will reduce the Filipino population’s exposure to HIV. We should take action. Let us intensify our HIV prevention campaign through peer education,” Gordon said.

DOH’s latest HIV/AIDS Registry shows that in March alone, there were 1,172 new cases reported, with 215 of them in advanced stage or AIDS. The figure brings the total number of cases this year to 3,434.

Gordon made the statement in line with the celebration of the 2019 World Blood Donors’ Day with the theme “Safe Blood for All,” a call to solidify access to safe and quality blood supply.

PRC now has 93 blood service facilities, including 27 blood centers, 66 blood collecting units/blood stations, and 11 apheresis centers.

The organization recently established blood facilities in Albay, Bogo, Mountain Province, and Calamba. PRC is also eyeing new blood stations in San Carlos, Pangasinan; San Rafael, Bulacan; Bocaue, Bulacan; Imus, Cavite; Bacoor, Cavite; and Romblon.

PRC, as one of the top providers of blood needs in the country, served a total of 205,772 individuals last year.

PRC’s National Blood Center also earned the international standard on quality management systems (ISO 9001:2015, making PRC the first blood center in Southeast Asia and the only non-hospital blood service facility in the Philippines to receive the certification.

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