PGH, COVID-19 survivor reiterate call for plasma donations

The Philippine General Hospital (PGH) on Thursday enjoined more survivors of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in the country to donate their plasma and help those who are still battling with the virus.

"Sa ating mga COVID survivor, ang inyo pong dugo ay makatutulong sa ating mga severe na COVID-19 patients sa pamamagitan ng pagbabahagi ng inyong plasma na nagtataglay ng panlaban sa COVID-19," Dr. Angie Mirasol, head of the UP-PGH convalescent plasma therapy, said in an interview on Dobol B sa News TV.

She said there are currently three COVID-19 patients in PGH who are being treated with donated plasma.

"Mga tatlong araw pa lang silang nabibigyan kaya patuloy namin silang inoobserbahan," she added.

Other patients at St. Luke's Medical Center in the Bonifacio Global City have started to show improvement in their conditions after receiving plasma from survivors.

Survivors of COVID-19 may coordinate with the PGH for plasma donation 14 days after they recover from the disease.

"Sa screening process, pupuntahan sila sa bahay. Examine sila. Kapag walang ibang problema, kukunan sila ng konting dugo. Kasama sa pagsusuri ay ang hemoglobin at saka certain markers ng infection," Mirasol said.

Once the interested donor passes the medical exam, he or she will have to undergo the procedure at the PGH's blood collection area.

"Hindi ito sa loob ng PGH. Ito ay bungad lamang at ang lugar na ito ay walang mga COVID-19 patients," she added.

The collection of plasma will take around 45 to 90 minutes.

While the treatment remains to be on the experimental stage, Mirasol noted that other countries hit by COVID-19 such as China, South Korea, and the United States use it.

Plasma donors

Frontliner Kai Soriano is one of the COVID-19 survivors in the country who donated her plasma for the treatment of other critically ill patients.

"Sa lahat po ng mga COVID survivor alam ko pong nakakatakot din na lumabas tayo ng bahay, na malaman ng mga tao sa paligid natin, pero wag na lang po natin isipin 'yun," she said in a separate interview on Dobol B sa News TV.

"Ang mahalaga naman po kung makakatulong tayo mabubuhay natin yung matutulungan natin. Pag natapos din naman itong COVID na ito, lilipas rin naman ang mga tsismis at diskriminasyon po," she added.

Senator Sonny Angara also donated his plasma after beating COVID-19.

Other COVID-19 survivors who want to donate may contact the following:

Philippine General Hospital (Dr. Sandy Maganito): 0917 805 3207

St. Lukes Medical Center: 8 789 7700 (local 2096)

As of April 15, the Philippines has recorded a total of 5,453 COVID-19 cases, with 349 deaths and 353 recoveries. — RSJ, GMA News