Philippine Red Cross - Cebu Chapter
Blood Center
PRC Bldg. Osmeña Boulevard, Cebu City, Philippines
Phone No. : (032) 253-4611
Frequently Asked Questions
About
The Blood Program of the Philippines operates in accordance with the provisions of the National Blood Services Act of 1994 or Republic Act (R.A.) 7719. In tripartite cooperation with the Department of Health and the Philippine Blood Coordination Council, the Philippine Red Cross (PRC) is one of the key organizations tasked to provide safe blood to the country through its active role in advocacy, promotion of voluntary blood donation, donor retention and care and the operation of a network of 74 Blood Service Facilities all over the country.
Profile
The PRC gives comprehensive blood services, which include donor recruitment, collection and storage of blood, blood testing, processing and supply to the hospitals in accordance with the provisions of R.A. 7719.
Donor Recruitment
In its continuous efforts to serve the increasing demand for blood in the country, the PRC Blood Services conducts voluntary blood donor education and recruitment to communities, different companies, organizations and schools nationwide.
These donor recruitment sessions aim to intensify the campaign for the important role of Voluntary Unpaid Donors in sustaining national blood requirement and the specific qualifications to be a voluntary blood donor.
Blood Collection
In 2012, the 76 PRC Blood Services Facilities had a total collection of 315,000 units. This accounts to 45% share of the nation's 2011 blood supply. The National Blood Center and PRC Blood Centers assist and support other PRC Chapters in their blood collection drives, by providing additional manpower and campaign materials when deemed necessary.
Blood Collection
In line with mandate of the Philippine Red Cross, the organization shall provide blood assistance to both rich and less fortunate clients. Safe and quality blood carries costs that most indigent patient cannot afford. And though blood itself is free, collecting and processing of one (1) unit of safe and quality whole blood costs P 1,500.00. The PRC operates a Blood Samaritan Program. This means that in cases when the hospital could not meet the blood requirements of a patient due to the inability of the patient to pay, patients will be assisted by this Red Cross project.
PRC Blood Samaritan Project is aimed mainly at assisting indigent patients needing blood transfusion. The Philippine Red Cross seeks kind-hearted agencies that are willing to give financial donations to support the health care needs, specifically the blood requirements of charity patients. Likewise, individuals can donate money to cover the payment of blood processing fees of legitimate indigent patients.
Blood Testing
To ensure that the blood we collect is safe for transfusion, we perform blood tests for Malaria, Syphilis, Hepatitis B & C, Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and Blood Typing (both ABO and Rh typing). All blood units found reactive or positive in any of the abovementioned transfusion-transmitted infections are quarantined and retested. Blood units found reactive twice are labeled "not for transfusion-for confirmatory testing," quarantined and then sent within 48 hours to appropriate center for confirmatory testing.
Blood Component Processing
Some of the PRC Blood Centers have facilities that separate blood into components using special equipment called refrigerated centrifuge. Thus, when you donate blood, you help save 3 lives.
Voluntary Blood Donor Recognition
We have instituted different recognition awards to sincerely acknowledge and thank the individuals and corporate groups that untiringly help us attain our mission. Blood Galloners pins, certificates, medals and plaques of appreciation are just some of the small tokens we give during our Annual Blood Donors Recognition Ceremony, which is held every month of July in celebration of the Blood Donor's Month.
Sustainability
The costs of comprehensive blood services management are raised through different sources, main of which are:
- Cost contribution by the consumers;
- Cash donation from the government (national lottery and local government units); and
- Some kits and reagents from the Department of Health and local government units.
How to Avail Blood
1. Secure a blood request from the hospital. The details should include the following data (request with incomplete data will not be honored):
a. Name
b. Age and gender
c. Citizenship
d. Diagnosis
e. Blood type (ABO and Rh type)
f. No. of units/ components of blood needed
g. Requesting physician's signature
h. Name of the hospital of confinement
2. Proceed to the PRC Blood Services Facility nearest you.
3. Wait for the proper instruction/ advice regarding the availability and issuance of blood.
Rh Negative Registry
Rh is a blood group system aside from ABO. We are familiar with the ABO Blood Group System wherein blood types would be; A, B, O, AB. In Rh Blood Group System, you will be typed as Rh positive/ (+) if you have the Rh antigen, and Rh negative/ (-) if none.
In the Philippines, approximately <1% of the population are Rh negative and >99% are Rh positive. Because of inadequacy of Rh negative blood, a Registry was established in 1999.
The National Registry of Rh Negative and Other Rare Blood Types was established to gather all individuals with rare blood types in the country. A joint project of the Rotary Club of Pasig, the Department of Health - National Voluntary Blood Services Program, the Philippine Red Cross, and the Philippine Association of Rh Negative and Other Rare Blood Types, the Registry aims to make Rh negative blood readily and efficiently available.
How to avail Rh negative blood
1. Fax the blood request to 02-521-3929 with the following data (request with incomplete data will not be honored):
a. Name
b. Age and gender
c. Citizenship
d. Diagnosis
e. Blood type (ABO and Rh type)
f. No. of units/ components of blood needed
g. Contact person, with contact number and address
h. Requesting physician's signature
2. Confirm at 02-521-3929 whether or not they received the blood request. As soon as the registry receives the blood request, we will look for possible blood donors.
3. Wait for the proper instruction/ advice regarding the availability and issuance of blood.
4. To follow up your request, you may contact 02-521-3929 or 0918-918-6531.