Philippine Red Cross opens convalescent plasma bank for COVID-19 patients

The Philippine Red Cross on Monday opened a convalescent plasma center in Manila to augment the needs for the treatment of COVID-19 patients.

The facility is located at the humanitarian organization's National Blood Center in the Port Area.

“Yung mga nagkaroon na ng COVID at gumaling ay maaaring magbigay ng dugo para maisalin sa ibang nakikipaglaban pa sa COVID," PRCGordon said in a statement.

"Ayon sa mga doctor sa PGH (Philippine General Hospital), nine out of 10 ang nakaka-recover dahil sa convalescent plasma. Nagkaroon bigla ng pag-asa ang mga may COVID. Ito ay isa sa mga armas natin laban sa COVID," he added.

COVID-19 survivors, aged 18 to 65, who are interested to donate their plasma to other patients who are still battling with the virus may call Red Cross at its hotline 143 or 09175820499.

Gordon said donors will have to undergo medical exams first to ascertain that the level of COVID-19 antibodies in their blood are suitable for the convalescent plasma therapy.

He added that Red Cross frontliners who recovered from COVID-19 will be the first plasma donors in the center—with their blood samples already being processed for the procedure.

Senator Sonny Angara, a COVID-19 survivor, also mounted a special website where recovered patients may connect with hospitals that are collecting plasma donations. -NB, GMA News