Yesterday afternoon, we received word that my maternal cousin Mark needs blood donations in case he needs a blood transfusion since he has dengue fever. He has a O+ blood type which is a universal donor, but cannot receive other blood types. My relatives exhausted all means possible, including contacting our family friends who are somehow working for Red Cross Davao. Luckily, we were able to acquire enough units for him.
In the evening, we became more panicked because the platelet count of his dad, Tito Jing who also has dengue fever, dropped significantly. Thing is Red Cross Davao is NOT OPEN 24 hours and there are no stocks of O+ Platelet Concentrate anywhere in Davao City. My cousin, a doctor, called all hospitals in the city to ask if they have any. One the Davao Regional Hospital/Davao Medical Center had one. We needed eight more units.
We even called up Tagum (a nearby city) hospitals to check if they have any. They didn’t.
We called up all our relatives and friends in the medical profession. We felt so helpless. We are a big family, and people often joke us that we’re related to everybody in Davao City. And we exhausted all means possible. But there was simply not enough supply in Davao City. My aunt even tried to contact Dick Gordon.
My relatives, unable to contact the Carmen Blood Bank/Red Cross, was forced to travel to Carmen, a town 2 hours away from Davao City just to check if there are stocks there (Correction: They traveled for 2 hours, back and forth). They traveled at 11 pm, not knowing if the blood bank was even open. My friend/boss, Tyron Uy of Tagum City, also sent people to Carmen just to check if the blood bank had any supplies.
My Mommy (my dad’s sister), a board member of Red Cross Davao was able to call up the Chairman of the Board of Directors of Red Cross Davao to open up the facility to process at least one unit of blood for us. And they were able to do it. Thank you to the Med Technician of Red Cross who was forced to wake up and work at 2 am!
We also called up my paternal cousin, Dr. Nina Militante, who is based in General Santos City. And she found 3 units of O+ Platelet Concentrate for us. At 2 am, my aunt, Ninang Ivi, searched for a fax machine in Davao City through which she can send the doctor’s orders so the blood could be released to Ate Nina. Our office fax machine is not yet enabled to call direct long distance.
At around 4 am, Ate Nina packed the blood in ice in a styrofoam box and had it sent via a non-stop bus from General Santos. At 6:30 am, the box arrived and it was picked up by my aunt’s driver, and sent to my uncle in the hospital.
As of this afternoon, we are glad that my uncle’s platelet count has increased. He is not well yet, but doing much better. However, my cousin’s platelet count has dropped and we are keeping tabs. We still need at least 6 units of O+ Platelet Concentration for my uncle and my cousin, by tonight. Once again, Red Cross Davao will be closing tonight, so we have to make sure we have enough blood supplies for the night.
It was one of those times that I am grateful that we are a big family and we somehow pulled through the night. We all lack sleep and we are all stilled very tired and stressed by the situation, but we are happy we made it through. I know that what we experienced is not comparable to what a lot has experienced the past few weeks because of Ondoy and other calamities, but the experience made us very scared.
I will make it a mission to know why Red Cross Davao is not open 24 hours. Davao City is a big city, a major city in Mindanao. A lot of patients come to the city to seek medical help. Yet Red Cross Davao is not open 24 hours. Meanwhile, the Red Cross chapters in General Santos and Carmen are both open 24 hours. I hope something can be done about this. I appreciate that we know people who were able to move mountains for us just so we could have Red Cross Davao open for us and have blood sent from General Santos. But what about other people, patients in dire need of blood in the middle of the night? How can they get help is Red Cross Davao is not open 24 hours a day?
Thank you so much to all our friends and relatives who have somehow helped us and gave us leads and ideas as to how we can acquire what we needed last night!
Thank you to the kind-hearted person who sent me load so I can keep contacting my maternal aunts here in Davao and my paternal cousin in General Santos!
All they need is a shove from Mayor D. Hope your cousin will get well soon.
Hope your relatives are ok …
in fairness to the organization whose function is just to support/ augment the government in providing assistance to those people who are in need … this organization depend solely on voluntary donation and it is impossible for them to run their program without added costs …
hope you were able to learn your lesson that being a blood donor is every body’s concern …
the operation of this organization is a management prerogative … and one way of saving the cost of operation which includes man power.
your in depth understanding is very much appreciated
kyoto boy
I do not blame Red Cross for what happened but it bothers me a lot that a big city such as Davao has no blood bank or anything like it that operates 24 hours a day.
firstly, I hope your relatives are out of danger.
secondly, I hope you get your facts first before posting.
now here’s my opinion:
This experience of yours would lead to the thinking how important blood donation is.
If you don’t mind me asking, have you ever donated blood?
The Red Cross is solely dependent on voluntary donations. It does not receive budget appropriation from the government and its not controlled by the government. Red Cross is Independent from the government. It raises funds for its operation from donations. Its financial capacity is limited and it still lacks man power. There are a lot of volunteers, however, the operation of the facility can never be left at their hands. It is a great responsibility to be carried by professional staff. Hiring new ones is not that easy. It entails so much financial demand; an added operational expense. Registered Medical Technologists nowadays are endangered species. It’s hard to find a good one at this time which will dedicate most of his time serving the organization. One reason I see why they do not operate in a 24-hour basis.
About blood bank, let me inform you that Red Cross is not the only Institution who operates a blood bank in Davao City. The Department of Health (the Government) also operates their very own blood center. Named “DAVAO BLOOD CENTER”, located at DOH compound, Bajada, Davao City. The one in Carmen is not of the Red Cross, its of the provincial government where they belong.
As mentioned by Kyoto Boy, the Red Cross functions as an supporting agency to the government’s program, which includes blood service and in times of disasters and calamities. Meaning, it only augments the deficiencies of the gov’t in the implementation of its programs. It’s not the lead agency. It cannot provide for everything the people needs.
Since the Red Cross is an auxiliary agency, did it ever occur to you to ask first the government agency “Why aren’t they operating in a 24-hour basis?” I’m sure they will answer you.
You mentioned that your “mommy” is a board member of the Davao Red Cross, have you ever asked her why it is not open for 24 hours? naturally, she knows that being a member of the board.
With regards to blood availability, if only people care to give blood on a regular basis, there wouldn’t be “shortage”.
Most people only realize the importance of blood donation when they need it. Or when a family member died because of the “lack of blood supply”.
The question is ” where do blood come from?”, “Did they ever care to donate blood before they had a need?” “are we going to wait for another incident before we care to give blood?”
Come to think of it.
Greetings for you Ma’am!!!
Being one of the volunteers of PNRC, Davao City Chapter, I do believe that it is one of my obligations to defend the institution in cases like this that there are things which need to be clarified especially if i have the knowledge about the related matter.
I heartily and sincerely understand your feelings because you have your patients who happened to be your relatives plus the fact that they’re in critical condition as you’ve mentioned, they are infected with dengue virus. But isn’t it more appropriate that when you expose your opinion or idea about somethings, you must be aware of the real story, real situation and real policy first?
Let me share to you everything I knew about blood centers and the real setting of Davao City in relation to blood for transfusion.
First, you should be aware that now a days, blood can never be bought for it is strictly prohibited to operate a commercial blood centers and since blood is no longer for sale therefore, you can not buy blood. Second, here in Davao City, we have two blood centers namely Davao Blood Center and the PNRC Blood Center. The former is the major blood center which happened to be under the government (DOH) and the latter is an auxiliary to the government. These two blood centers depend on voluntary blood donation and will examine the blood coming from walk in donors or if there will be a Mobile Blood Donation (“blood letting as what we used to say”).
In every blood letting, all donors will be given donor’s card as a proof that they have records of donation and that they have deposited blood so that when the time comes that they will be needing blood, they will just present the card but it is only a priority card because it is also dependent on the component preparation needed by the patient (availability of blood components).
On the case of your patients, they needed platelet concentrate. As far as I know, most of the time, platelet is not really readily available, why?… because platelet can never be stored longer compare to other components of blood that is why most of the time, when a patient needs platelet, there will be a donor to be extracted with blood and it will be processed in order to derive platelet concentrate.
Let me enlighten you also about the “24 hrs. open issue”. You have mentioned that your dad’s sister is a member of board of directors… you should’ve asked her why?. Yes it is true that PNRC-Blood Center of Davao City is not open for 24 hrs. but it is not true that the function of it stops after the closure (11pm) because we have our OPCEN, operating 24/7 and it is not true also as you’ve mentioned that on the case of your patients, the med.tech. was forced to woke up because of your contact persons because as far as I know, PNRC is a humanitarian institution and is always neutral therefore wether a particular patient has contacts/connections or none, he/she will still be catered. That is the reason why all the contact numbers of PNRC-Blood Center Staff were left to the security guards so that when there will be patients who need blood (especially emergency cases), the staff will be on call. Thus, even if the Blood Center is not open for 24 hrs., the Staff are still obliged to respond in the event someone needs blood for emergency cases. I strongly believe that it was not the first time that a particular staff of PNRC-Blood Center woke up late just to cater a patient.
Let us just put it this way, it’s not really all about connections and contact persons but it is all about our duties, obligations and responsibilities to one another. Sometimes, it is really easier for us to complain but when we learn later that we can help, why not extend so?
I think, it can also be an eye opener for us that if only all of us (healthy individuals) will voluntary donate blood, then it is very possible that there will always be available blood units that can be released to patient/s especially who badly needs immediate transfusion.
Lastly, I would like to encourage you also Ma’am to invite your friends and relatives (since you’re a big family) to become a regular voluntary blood donors. You can actually include it also to your blogs. By doing so, we can help providing blood units for the patients and maybe when the time will come that our love ones/relatives will be needing blood, then we can somehow be assured that there will be blood units that can be used for there are large numbers of Voluntary Blood Donors already. Based on the books that I have read and based on what I have learned from my doctor of medicine friends, “when you donate blood, you are not only helping other people but you are also helping your own self to become healthier”. So why not donate blood?… Everyone, let us be united. Let us donate blood and save lives!
I do hope Ma’am you’ll accept my sharing constructively. Again, I deeply understand what you have went through. I am praying for your recovery for the trauma that you have experienced with your relatives and also, I will be praying for the fast recovery of your patients and that they will feel better and be cured as soon as possible.
More power and more blessings from God!!!
I am glad that things went well. I knew something was wrong because our friend Brendel called up at midnight asking for the #s of GenSan Doctors Hospital here. Good thing I found them.
We are lucky that the GenSan Red Cross Center here, just behind the City Hall is open 24hours a day. They have a good manager in the person of Ms. Merlinda Gludo.
For emergency cases like yours, their being open means so much in helping save the lives of others.
Ayo-ayo!
I am a Red Cross volunteer.
The Philippine National Red Cross is a voluntary organization run by volunteers who are trying their best to serve humanity. Its blood bank is just an auxiliary of the Davao Blood Center of the Dept. of Health. The blood bank of Red Cross Davao closes at 11 PM, the blood processing cut-off is 4Pm because testing time lasts 4 to 5 hrs, while the platelet processing takes 3 to 4 hours. The Davao Blood Center closes at 8 pm. To run a 24-hour blood bank, we need 18 t 20 med techs. We do not have such resources. We wish we have. We were able to serve 6 units for Mark because we had time to process. We wish we could have done more for Jing, but we were only able to serve him 2 units at past midnight. We are sorry but we can only do so much.
Aside from the blood bank, we also have our disaster management services, safety services, red cross youth, social services.
We do need more volunteers and donors.
dear ria
i just read your article on the Red Cross, I think your write up was very bias
i suggest before you write incriminating words you must look at the whole picture and realize that the red cross organization has helped so many people
but i think being an organization they also have their limitations and you should not blame them for that
may be in return you should ask your cousin to keep his environment clean so he wont get infected with the dengue virus
and another thing is you misspelled the word blood you wrote
BLOOR
your mission i think maybe good why not you volunteer in the evenings so the red cross can benefit from your free labor
POWER TO RED CROSS I SUPPORT YOU FOR YOUR HUMANITARIAN EFFORT
OHHH
THERE IS NO RED CROSS IN CARMEN
BEFORE YOU WRITE GET THE COMPLETE FACTS
THANKS
HAPPY HALLOWEEN
@diosdada: As much as I appreciate your defense of the Red Cross, your way of thinking is despicable. Mark and his dad are already and still are sick. You cannot blame them for that. The real issue is the Red Cross lacks donors, lacks blood, and is just plain incapable of handling the needs of the city. On the other hand, the Red Cross in General Santos is open 24 hours. We were able to get 2 units from them for my uncle. I am pretty sure the Red Cross here can be as efficient as that. People don’t choose to be sick, nor do they pick which time they need blood the most. That is why Ria wonders why there is no blood bank in Davao that can serve sick people in the evenings and early mornings. There is nothing wrong by asking that. It is a valid issue that hopefully can be addressed real soon.
Greetings for you Ma’am!
Being one of the volunteers of PNRC, Davao City Chapter, I do believe that it is one of my obligations to defend the institution in cases like this that there are things which need to be clarified especially if I have the knowledge about the related matter.
I heartily and sincerely understand your feelings because you have your patients who happened to be your relatives plus the fact that they’re in critical condition as you’ve mentioned, they are infected with dengue virus. However, isn’t it more appropriate that when you expose your opinion or idea about something, you must be aware of the real story, real situation and real policy first?
Let me share to you everything I knew about blood centers and the real setting of Davao City in relation to blood for transfusion.
First, you should be aware that now a days, blood can never be bought for it is strictly prohibited to operate a commercial blood centers and since blood is no longer for sale therefore, you can not buy blood. Second, here in Davao City, we have two blood centers namely Davao Blood Center and the PNRC Blood Center. The former is the major blood center which happened to be under the government (DOH) and the latter is an auxiliary to the government. These two blood centers depend on voluntary blood donation and will examine the blood coming from walk in donors or if there will be a Mobile Blood Donation (”blood letting as what we used to say”).
In every blood letting, all donors will be given donor’s card as a proof that they have records of donation and that they have deposited blood so that when the time comes that they will be needing blood, they will just present the card but it is only a priority card because it is also dependent on the component preparation needed by the patient (availability of blood components). I know these things because I am also a regular voluntary blood donor.
On the case of your patients, they needed platelet concentrate. As far as I know, most of the time, platelet is not really readily available, why?… because platelet can never be stored longer compare to other components of blood that is why most of the time, when a patient needs platelet, there will be a donor to be extracted with blood and it will be processed in order to derive platelet concentrate. You are even very lucky that there were spare units that were released for your patients even if you don’t have the replacement donors or donors for patient directed transaction.
Let me enlighten you also about the “24 hours open issue”. You have mentioned that your dad’s sister is a member of the board of directors. You should’ve asked her why because for sure she has the knowledge about it. Yes it is true that PNRC-Blood Center of Davao City (as well as Davao Blood Center of DOH) is not open for 24 hrs. However, it is not true that the function of it stops after the closure (11pm) because PNRC OPCEN, operating 24/7 and it is not true also as you’ve mentioned that on the case of your patients, the Medical Technologist was forced to woke up only because of your contact persons because as far as I know, PNRC is a humanitarian institution and is always neutral therefore, whether a particular patient has contacts/connections or none, he/she will still be catered. That is the reason why all the contact numbers of PNRC-Blood Center Staff were left to the security guards so that when there will be patients who will need blood, (especially emergency cases) the staff will be on call. Thus, even if the Blood Center is not open for 24 hours, the Staff is still obliged to respond in the event someone needs blood for emergency cases. I strongly believe that it was not the first time that a particular staff of PNRC-Blood Center woke up late just to cater a patient.
Let us just put it this way, it’s not really all about connections and contact persons but it is all about our duties, obligations and responsibilities to one another. Sometimes, it is really easier for us to complain especially if we are not the ones who did the transaction and if we don’t have the exact and proper information.
I think it can also be an eye opener for us that if only all of us (healthy individuals) will voluntarily donate blood, then it is very possible that there will always be available blood units that can be released to patient/s especially those who badly needs immediate transfusion.
Lastly, I would like to encourage you also Ma’am to invite your friends and relatives (since you’re a big family as you said) to become a regular voluntary blood donors. You can actually include it also to your blogs so that at least, you are also extending help. By doing so, we can help providing blood units for the patients and maybe when the time will come that our love ones/relatives will be needing blood, then we can somehow be assured that there will be blood units that can be used for there are large numbers of Voluntary Blood Donors already.
Based on the books that I have read and based on what I have learned from my doctor of medicine friends, “when you donate blood, you are not only helping other people but you are also helping your own self to become healthier”. So why not donate blood? To everybody, let us be united. Let us donate blood and save lives!
I do hope Ma’am you’ll accept my sharing constructively. Again, I deeply understand what you have gone through. I am praying for your recovery for the trauma that you have experienced with your relatives and also, I will be praying for the fast recovery of your patients and that they will feel better and be cured as soon as possible.
More power and more blessings to you from God!!!
hi there! just wanted to share wat ive read about a possible cure for dengue..
http://pam-pam.blogspot.com/2008/11/dengue-cure-papaya-leave-increases.html
🙂
@ drew:
The situation of Gen. Santos City and Davao City is different.
In GenSan, there is no other blood center operating within their city.
In Davao City, though the Red Cross is an auxiliary agency, it operates from 8am to 11pm, compared to the lead agency, which is the Davao Blood Center that operates from 8am to 8pm. Three hours short than that of their support agency. Isn’t it ironic?
As mentioned by Madam Bonguyan (thank you Ma’am for your humble response), processing cut-off of Red Cross is @ 4pm. As I have known, cut-off of Davao Blood Center is @ 11am. Have you seen the difference?
Its very inappropriate for you to say that the Red Cross Davao is incapable in handling the needs of the city. To remind you again, Red Cross is an auxiliary agency. It’s not the sole responsibility of the Organization to provide for the needs of the people. The community itself is also responsible for its need. Had they supported the programs of the Red Cross? Why ask the question to the Red Cross alone? I could never imagine what would have happened if the Red Cross has never played its part in handling the needs of the city.
When the closure of the commercial blood bank took effect in December 31, 2006, who struggled to cater the needs of the city and nearby areas? (Try to check local news archives between January – March of 2007)
I believe the Red Cross Davao had helped your family somehow, and is still helping, not just you but a lot more patients than you ever know.
Blood comes from volunteer blood donors.
Since you say that the Red Cross lacks blood, lacks donors, why don’t you become one? Why don’t you invite others to be blood donors too? That may be able to add to the volunteer blood donor pool of the city.
What do you think?
@ ria:
I would just like to correct you, this has been mentioned by argonaut but i would just like to add some.
Blood Bank in Carmen is not of the Red Cross, and don’t be exaggerated, travel time from Davao City to Carmen is barely 45 minutes. If you have traveled for 2 hours, you might have reached Nabunturan.
Please be factual.
_– humanitarian volunteer –_
(medtech by profession; former intern @ PNRC Davao; volunteer)
My comment for now is actually dedicated to you Sir Drew. It seems that you are talking things without knowing it.
As far as I am concern being a volunteer of PNRC, Davao City Chapter, I will again correct what you have misunderstood about the real picture. You said there is nothing wrong in asking questions and so there is nothing wrong also if we, the volunteers will answer and clarify things if we have knowledge about it.
You said that the real issue is PNRC-Davao City lacks donors and lacks blood supply. Before saying it, did you ever ask yourself if you have really the knowledge about what blood is? Did you also know that blood has so many different component preparations?
This morning, I called up Red Cross and got information that I’m pretty sure will answer your concerns. PNRC-Davao City Chapter has so much blood supplies and so many voluntary blood donors (both from walk in and from Mobile Blood Donations). In fact, the number of donors exceeded with their expectations as to compare with their collections for the previous years since they are enhancing their advocacy in promoting Voluntary Blood Donation. However, in case you don’t know, what are very available are the whole blood, packed red blood cells, fresh frozen plasma and cryoprecipitate which can be stored longer or have higher life span compare to platelet concentrate which happened to be the needs of your patients. Despite the advances in science, having high technology equipment at present, there is still no discovery of gadgets, chemicals or any instruments that could prolong the life span of a platelet the moment it will be extracted from a particular donor. The needs of platelet is seasonal, most of the time the units will only be thrown away for it reached its expiration date because nobody needs it.
According to the staff I’ve talked with, your patients were catered appropriately and that the ones who did the transaction with them (watcher of the patients) were given instructions properly about the procedure and the availability of the components of the blood and even about the alternative procedure which is the “Apheresis-Derived Platelet Concentrate” to be processed by the machine in which the watchers will be to ones to bring the qualified donor. Compare to the usual random platelet concentrate, ADP only requires 1 donor for every 6-8units (6-8 donors) of RPC. I am also very sure that most of our doctors of medicine now know about it!
You’ve said that the PNRC Blood Center here in Davao City is incapable of handling the needs of the city in relation to blood supplies and that you’ve added that they should be as efficient as the PNRC, Gensan. What is your basis? Your patient? Or the blood units you’ve got from Gensan? How many units did you got from there? 2, right? In Davao Blood Center which is the Major Blood Center of the city and the one who is under the Government (DOH), how many did you got? 1 unit, right? Have you considered how many units you’ve got from the PNRC Blood Center of Davao City? Are you not informed that your patients consumed all the available units without even replacing it by bringing donors? According to the staff, all their available units have been released to your patients and how come you arrived with the kind of assessment that you have shown to? Up to this moment, there are still 6 units that were unclaimed by the watcher of the patients. And they are continuously processing more blood units for the patients.
You know what Mr. Drew? It is very natural to show concerns especially if the issues fall on our house but let me advice you that when you do so, try to care and bother to do research and examine everything accordingly so that it will not result to a very shameful manner of exposing your thoughts since you do not know what you are talking about. I am not even sure if you are aware of the real transactions because if you do, then there is no need for you to ask questions, instead, you will be answering it by your own.
For the PNRC-Blood Center in Davao City to be opened in 24 hours is actually not an issue because just in case you are not aware again, I will inform you that even if it closes at 11pm, all the Medical Technologists will be on call and are still oblige to be there every time someone will be needing blood especially for emergency cases even late in the evening, at dawn or early in the morning. In addition, we also have our OPCEN that operates 24/7.
The problem is you are giving your judgments focusing only to a single point. How about considering other incidents or other patients that have been catered by the said institution even if it’s not working hours anymore? Your patient is only one of those because the said institution released additional two units of Platelet Concentrate for your patients at 2am last October 08, 2009 after they got the six units on the previous day. You are very lucky that you got another 2units from Gen.San. because as I said, it is not readily available most of the time for it has a very short life span. You should also be reminded that Davao City has a huge population and that the said institution does not only cater Davao City but also the nearby provinces including Gen.San. and even some provinces from Visayas region. The truth is the said provinces do even have so many referrals from time to time.
Now, if you believe that Davao City lacks blood donors then might as well include yourself on the list so that instead of talking things that you don’t know, you will understand more what blood donation is and its importance. By the way, have you tried to become a voluntary blood donor? Aside from it will help you become healthier and become positive thinker, it will also give you the opportunity to help other people including your relatives like your present patients. Be a regular voluntary blood donor. I believe you have so many relatives and friends, therefore, invite them also to become blood donors so that you will become more responsible citizen of our country and you will also become one of the living heroes of this generation.
It is like saving money in the bank. When you save more, you can also get more. The Blood Centers are only there to examine blood and store the blood units but the numbers of its supplies depend on the responsible people who will donate blood. I am also a regular voluntary blood donor so be one of us.
To all the people especially here in Davao City, let us help one another. Let us strengthen the advocacy in promoting the importance and essence of Voluntary Blood Donation. We are not only living in this world for our own selves because we have our obligations to our fellowmen.
Once again, when we express our thoughts, it would be better that we think many times first and let us asses and be very cautious if it’s appropriate to say so. May God continue to guide, protect and enlighten us in every doubt, confusion and obstacle that we experience. God bless us always!
i am also a med.tech. and based on what i have learned in college that i am still bringing until now with regards to blood is that, platelet concentrate can be transfused even if it is not type specific. but it is also a reality that not all doctors have the knowledge about it. i wish your patients have been taken cared of by better physicians.
to PNRC, more power. we will always support you because we believe that you are the most humanitarian institution in town. God bless
i was once an intern of davao city red cross blood center and for almost 2 months that i was there, i can really attest how dedicated the staff are and how they extend help to the people. they are very nice to everybody and they never choose the status of the people whom they will deal with. they are neutral in other words.
to the family and relatives of the patients, your emotions are very understandable but of course, try to be fair and square to everything. in fairness to PNRC, in everything they do for the common good and for the benefit of the people they are serving, they never expect praises or anything in return. wholeheartedly, they really serve to the best that they could do. more power to PNRC, i know that there are more people who have appreciated your efforts than those who don’t. some of these people may not be be that vocal and transparent in showing their appreciation but i know for sure that they are expressing it in their own silent way. to the staff of davao city red cross blood center, rest assure that you will always be included in my prayers. though i am not seeing you anymore after my internship, i have never forgotten you. have more strength, courage and power. god bless you always
Believe me, I tried to volunteer my blood, but I was not eligible because of injuries on my knee. My brother also was rejected because of his liver medication. You can check with them if you want. My wounds are pretty difficult to forget lol.
Ok, I apologize for saying that the PNRC in Davao is incapable of handling the needs of the city. It was an emotional statement that I take back. But let’s talk about 24-hour issue. Yes, my relatives were able to receive several units of O+ blood from the PNRC. They were requested earlier and they were enough to get my cousin through the day. But in the evening his dad turned for the worse. He needed 9 units asap. His blood platelet count was only 18,000. I’m not familiar with the terminology but I think that’s way below normal. So it was 10pm in the evening. Where do we turn to? The PNRC had closed for the day, as did the other blood banks. The Carmen District Hospital didn’t have the supply we needed. We were able to get a unit from DMC. That’s one down, eight to go. But that’s already beside the point. The PNRC was not open when we needed them the most. Like I said earlier, people do not choose the time they need blood the most. My uncle certainly didn’t. How do we remedy this?
@Jody, you say that med techs are on call even if the PNRC is closed. We were not told about this when we approached your office. We did get some blood at 2AM, but that was only after Ms. Bonguyan herself made some calls and had a med tech waken up. Please note that we needed the blood since 10PM. If it were that simple (like you said) to get a med tech over, we would have gotten that unit of blood much earlier.
GO GO GO PNRC.
I AGREE WITH YOU MARVZ. IN MY 32 YEARS OF PROFESSION BEING A MED.TECH. ALSO, I AM AWARE THAT NOT ALL DOCTORS ARE REALLY WELL KNOWLEDGEABLE ABOUT THE USAGE OF BLOOD. IN CASES OF EMERGENCIES, I KNOW THAT FRESH FROZEN PLASMA CAN BE USED THOUGH IT CAN NEVER BE AN ALTERNATIVE TO PLATELET CONCENTRATE BUT AT LEAST, IT WILL STILL SERVE AS AN AID BECAUSE THERE ARE STILL OTHER CLOTTING FACTORS PRESENT IN IT THAT WILL HELP PREVENT THE BLEEDING IN CASE THERE ARE SYMPTOMS ARISING FROM THE PATIENT AND ASIDE FROM THAT, SINCE PLASMA IS FLUID, IT CAN STILL HELP THE PATIENT. CRYOPRECIPITATE CAN ALSO BE AN AID. OF COURSE, I BELIEVE THAT FFP AND CRYO.PPT. ARE ALWAYS AVAILABLE BECAUSE IT EXPIRES AFTER A YEAR.
WELL, WE HAVE SO MANY DISEASES AND ILLNESSES RIGHT NOW. DENGUE IS ONE OF THOSE THAT IS REALLY RAPIDLY INCREASING. LET US PRAY THAT ANOTHER SCIENTIST WILL DISCOVER ANOTHER PRESERVATIVE THAT WILL PROLONG PLATELET CONCENTRATE FOR STORAGE. WHETHER WE LIKE IT OR NOT, WE CAN’T REALLY HELP IT FOR NOW BECAUSE EVEN IF WE KEEP ON EXTRACTING BLOOD FROM DONORS, STILL WE CAN NOT STORE THE PLATELET LONG.
TO PNRC, OUR SUPPORT WILL ALWAYS BE TO YOU BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT YOU HAVE HELPED SO MANY PEOPLE.
WITH REGARDS TO BLOOD, ALTHOUGH I KNOW THAT YOU ARE NOT THE MAJOR BLOOD CENTER OF THE CITY BUT WE CONSIDER YOU AS OUR MAIN SOURCE OF BLOOD. FOR HOW MANY TIMES, I’VE BEEN A WITNESS THAT YOU ARE CATERING SO MANY PATIENTS EVEN IF IT’S BEYOND YOUR WORKING HOURS. WE ARE VERY AWARE OF THAT, ALL OF US WHO ARE IN THE LAB. OF THE HOSPITAL WE ARE WORKING WITH. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
GOOD OR EVEN BETTER HEALTH FOR ALL OF US
Dear Ria and all who replied,
I am so happy everytime blood needs is highlighted or mentioned. We need all the attention and wake-up calls. Let me share pieces from my mind.
1. When I looked at the data of this blood bank, it showed that most of the transaction happens before 11 pm. While the institution is struggling to maintain the services because of budgetary reasons, though it is a DIFFICULT DECISON but it is a necessity to limit operations up to 11 pm. Those collected processing fees (set by the national office) is barely enough to cover all the expenses (manpower, reagents etc). Yes it is also true that they need as much medtechs to operate 24 hrs.
2. Because of red cell contamination during platelet preparation (classic centrifugation) doctors still find transfusion reactions. Thus, do not believe all what you read in books. FFP and CRPPT when you go into DIC.
3. To be self sufficient in blood, 2% of the population must give blood. Do the math (get the population of your place and get the number of blood from donations), you will be surprised how deeply in truouble we are. Thus, it is not a surprise where everywhere blood is not enough.
4. For platelet needs you can get about 8 units from 1 person using apheresis method. I am not so sure if it still operational in Davao City. The last time I was there, they were processing.
5. Yes, it is true that the red cross is an auxiliary to the government. Look at RA 7719 of 1992. Blood need is a government responsibility. In fairness to the local government, they had been supporting the local RC and it is greatly appreciated.
6. Now I am going radical in this…. the problem here is due to the splitting of resources due to the creation of RA 7719. Two (2) agencies (DOH being the lead and the RC) are allowed under the law to operate. If they only centralize the operation, centralized the resources/budget/finance. Then it would be more efficient. Do you get my point? If the budget from the central government, support form local government and those raised from processing fees then there will be more machines, reagents, manpower and distribution lines to deliver those needed blood. There will also be no “competition” for donors. I am a nonbeliever of “councils” created by laws (look at what is happending with NDCCC). Same is true with Phil Blood Coordinating Council. Hope people will wake up and you ma’am can help in waking up people. I have done my part before. I have written people in congress to change the law but nothing happened. So i’ll give the ball to you
7. A big isssue to is why do volunteer donors had to pay for their deposited blood just like in banks. This bannk is different. Before you can release a unit for transfusion, it has to checked for diseases ( 5 philippines more in other countries), cost of separating and storing the different blood cells and not to mention promotion and collection cost (going to the field for mass blood donations). So this a complex process.
Thus, thank you for bringing this up. This a form of awareness but a difficult one cause lives are at stake. I know those peole are good and all of you are good. I’ve been there and it is a tough battle – for you and those ensuring adequate and safe blood.
Dr Voice ND WILDERNESS
GO GO RED CROSS I LOVE YOU
YOU HAVE HELPED SO MANY PEOPLE
TO THE FAMILY OF THE PATIENT MAG DONATE KAYO NG BLOOD DO NOT BE VAMPIRES
MAG BILI NALANG KAYO NG TRUEBLOOD JUST LIKE IN CINEMAX
HAR HAR HAR
THE RED CROSS IS DOING ITS BEST TO HELP THE PEOPLE IN ANY PART OF THE COUNTRY REGARDLESS OF STATUS IN SOCIETY
KEEP THAT IN MIND PEEPS
To Mr. Drew again, you shoud’ve approached the guards or even call the OPCEN for you to have the numbers of the on call Med.Techs. not the board of directors or whoever that are not aware of the persons to be contacted in case there will be patient/s that should be catered after working hours.
I am continuously praying that people like you will be enlightened more. May God shower you with so much guidance and blessings!
For the record, our relatives did try to ask the guards or whoever was manning the phones of Red Cross Davao that night to call the Med Techs who could process for us. But they told us that it could not be done.
We are not blaming Red Cross or in any way saying that they are at fault. We are simply relating what happened. And wondering why we, or anybody else who might have been in our shoes, had to go through so much trouble. We are, in fact, very grateful that certain people within Red Cross went the extra mile to assist us.
We did bring in people to donate. Please do not make us look like opportunists who just took away supplies without donating blood to replenish the stocks.
To everyone:
This topic should be a way to awaken everybody on the matters of community needs, specifically blood.
thank you for your opinions and information. I had learned new things.
@ drew:
your question about 24-hr issue is now answered by DR Voice ND Wilderness. As I understand in his statements, he was formerly active in the Operation of the Red Cross Davao to the point that he had data of its transaction. (thank you DR for a very substantial info).
Here’s a piece of advice (for ria too): When you are at an emotional state, don’t you ever dare to say anything against anyone, because more often than not, what you’ve said will boomerang back to you.
When people are at the height of their emotion, they talk so much without thinking, and destroying their own dignity on the process. They always insist that they are right, which in fact its the other way around. They also doesn’t want to listen and they make it appear that they don’t understand; but actually, they just don’t want to understand because they want things be done in their own way. They do not want acknowledge the process to undertake thus leading to a more complicated situation.
I hope this make sense to all who read this.
@ ria:
I am saddened of the way of your thinking. For a person who belong to the generation who wants radical change, you still have the thoughts of having “connections” can make things move for you? And believing that since you came from a known clan and knowing a lots of “big” people can make things work easier for you? Very ironic and contradictory to what you are crusading.
Remember this: At times, “big” people are given special treatment not because they are revered but despised.
Try to reflect this on your self.
Mr. Passerby
I would like EVERYONE to know that the RED CROSS does not serve in a “WHOM-YOU-KNOW” policy (especially in Davao City). Everyone is treated fairly. The Red Cross Principle of IMPARTIALITY is observed. From whatever status in the society you belong, you will be entertained as anybody else.
Red Cross bow to needs, but not to kings.
Red Cross never take sides.
Red Cross do not choose whom to help.
Red Cross make ways to alleviate human suffering, but it can never take it away.
To all,
Red Cross is not a perfect Organization. It has its limits. It has its setbacks. However, every one in the Organization, staff and volunteers alike, are striving their best to serve as many needy ones as possible. They may not have provided everything in need, but at least have contributed something of help.
Let us not throw mud at each other. We are not perfect. Instead of bickering, let us rather help each other. There are lots of people who need help everyday. We should be thankful that we are the ones who are able to help.
Thank you and may God bless everyone!
Nathan Neil
@D’ Artagnan – I don’t appreciate what you’re implying. The sad truth is that we got what we got, partially because we knew people who were able to make it possible. If we didn’t know the people we know, sad to say we would have had a harder time acquiring the blood units we needed. And that is the truth.
Which is not to say that Red Cross gave us preferential treatment or that the Red Cross operates with that policy. What I’m saying is that we are lucky. And that other people might not be as lucky as us.
To you Ma’am Ria, I again called up PNRC to ask for updates about your patients. They have really chosen to be silent about the said matter but in my case as a volunteer, I would like again to express what I have felt as well as what I have known. They assumed that your patients are out of danger now and most probably, out from the hospital.
I am not really aware if you are one of those watchers who were doing the previous transactions with the Blood Center Staff because when I ask them, they are not really sure if you are included since they are just doing according to the procedure that should be done and they never asked names or maybe they are asking names but they are not memorizing nor familiarizing the faces of all the people who went there.
Anyway, from the information I got, the staff told me that yes, you have brought donors to the Blood Center but that donors were not intended for the replacement of the units that were released for your patients but instead, for another requests from your doctor. In other words, it was a patient directed transaction.
According to the Staff, after the last transaction you had, none of the watchers of the patients bothered to checked nor advised the Blood Center for further instructions about what should be done to the six units of platelet concentrate that were unclaimed.
They added that the said units were thrown away yesterday because it already reached its expiration. As what I have told you before Ma’am, platelet concentrate can never be stored longer compare to other components of blood, I think this is very clear to you already. The said expired units which were thrown away were also unpaid for its processing fee.
But I would like to make it clear that the unpaid processing fee is not big deal for the Staff. In fact, the staff whom I talked with told me that it is really okay and alright with them that the said units were unpaid. However, they just wished that you should’ve told them that your patients will no longer use the said units so that it can be released to other patients who are also in need of the same component. In that way, you will have another chance and opportunity to help other people.
Well, I still respect your freedom in expressing your thoughts and all the words that are within you including the words that you are about to utter and expose. But again, I would like to remind you to be cautious and responsible in doing so. Please!
I would like to invite and encourage you again to be part of our advocacy in promoting Voluntary Blood Donation so that you will really be more aware and knowledgeable of its essence and importance and soon can appreciate it. Disseminate the information to all your friends and relatives. Be a volunteer of PNRC and learn more about the institution. Discover and understand more what PNRC is all about and How PNRC, Davao City Chapter is being managed. I think, it is a better mission to do. When you are in the PNRC, you’ll see that everyone must be treated equally and fairly.
May God shower you with more power and blessings! May He grant you also all the necessary graces that you need… God speed!
This blog has sparked emotions and opened a mission for Ria… and hoping something could be done. I feel and inderstand how people close to the red cross reacted on your statement of MOVING MOUNTAINS. Maybe you did not intend of huritng others but for people indoctrinated on one of the RC principles (IMPARTIALITY), it took away a sense of pride – a sense of serving an institution that is unique among others. That statement severed the umbilical cord feeding their thirst for standing tall (saying to the world that we do not choose who we help). I believe that what they need is a little apology. I hope that is not so hard to ask.
I also hope that your mission has been answered. The attached mission to this is if something could be done. Have you moved a finger or thought on what can be done? You are in the best position of doing something. You have the prowess and the control of words in your mind and fingers. You have all the connection to start the crusade. The crusade to help the OTHERS who need help who do not have the connection you were blessed with.
The system is realy not perfect. The Philippine really lagged behind the rest. What do I mean with this? We are still talking on how to RECRUIT DONORS while other countries are talking about antibodies and diagnostic methods for screening. So hope you can start by sharing your prowess of marketing the idea of GIVING a part that you can share. GIVING without expecting anything in return. I am sure your marketing talent will be of use. Just call them and you’ll be surprised that they do not have a separate marketing arm – A SEPARATE (“SOLELY DEDICATED) DONOR RECRUITMENT TEAM… Hope that your family is well and all the families there….
Ria,
I’m not fond at implying what my point is. It’s what you wrote; how it was written. Maybe you just don’t realize the tone of your statement. But what I said is how it appears to me. Maybe you may learn something from my opinion, and be more responsible in how you state your commentaries.
You’re young and energetic. You’re active in the issues of national concern. That’s good. However, always be careful when you make your statements, because at times you might forget and you express your sentiments in a way contradicting your principle and what you are fighting for. You will eventually lose your credibility. There’s a lot of personalities who contradict their own principle.
Take my views as a challenge, for you to develop more.
As we know, different people have different views and opinions. There are times that other people see something wrong in us but we do not see it ourselves. Let us not react negatively if they are trying to correct us. We do not learn alone. Learning involves everything that revolve around us.
I hope you may be more responsible and sensitive on everything that you will write on all your Blogs.
Freedom without responsibility is the way uncivilized live.
Mabuhay ang Pilipinas!
Mabuhay tayong lahat!
God bless…