3 Pinoy COVID-19 survivors donate blood to PGH

Three of the 124 coronavirus disease 2019 survivors in the country have come forward to donate their blood to the Philippine General Hospital, in high hopes that  this will help other patients battling the virus recover.

"On April 9, 2020 (Araw ng Kagitingan), the first three brave and healthy COVID-19 Filipino survivors generously donated their blood for the Convalescent Plasma Therapy vs. COVID-19 ," PGH spokesperson Dr. Jonas Del Rosario said in a Facebook post.

"They rose above the stigma and showed the world that their plasma is a gift of life. We need more donors," he added.

Recently, the PGH  urged those who recovered from COVID-19 to donate their blood to help other patients who are in critical condition.

Their antibodies that helped them defeat COVID-19 will be transferred to other patients through the convalescent plasma transfusion.

"Nagtataglay ang kanilang dugo ng antibodies. Kaya nga sila naka-recover ay nakagawa sila ng immune response through the antibody. 'Yan ang gagamitin natin ngayon na para ibigay naman sa mga pasyente na lumalaban pa sa COVID-19," Del Rosario said earlier. 

But donors need to be healthy, he pointed out. 

"Usually kapag negative na, mga two weeks pa 'yan na pinapagaling bago sila maging qualified donor. Siyempre may tests din sa dugo nila kasi kung may  iba naman silang sakit at hindi pwedeng makapag-donate ng dugo, hindi rin sila pwede," he said.

COVID-19 survivors who want to donate blood may contact PGH through Dr. Sandy Maganito at 0917 805 3207 or the UP PGH COVID-19 hotline at 155-200.

As of April 9, the Philippines recorded a total of 4,076 COVID-19 cases, 203 deaths, and 124 recoveries. —Dona Magsino/LBG, GMA News