Press Release
September 9, 2006

Red Cross intensifies blood drives amidst Rizal dengue outbreak

The Philippine National Red Cross (PNRC) has intensified its voluntary blood campaign efforts to provide blood to the rising number of dengue patients in Rizal.

In the past week alone, the PNRC Rizal Chapter has provided blood to a total of 60 patients from various municipalities in Rizal. They serve an average of 9 dengue patients a day.

So far we have responded well to blood requests, said Dr. Teresita Arguelles, Regional Director for NCR and Southern Luzon , but the demand is growing fast so were bolstering our blood campaign efforts to replenish our depleting supply.

PNRC chairman Richard J. Gordon, for his part, reiterated his advocacy and promotion of voluntary blood donation to ensure enough supply in the event of disasters or epidemics.

The PNRC is now one of the only two organizations in the country allowed to maintain a blood bank, added Gordon. Our blood centers have first-rate equipment that ensures quality of blood, so people who come to us can rest assured that theyre getting safe blood.

The Rizal Chapter has organized several blood-letting drives in the coming days, including Don BoscoMakati and Pasig Bethel Church on September 10; and the Rizal Technological University the following week.

The dengue outbreak prompted the authorities to announce a state of calamity in several Rizal towns. In Morong, three children reportedly died while 10 more are being treated at the Rizal Memorial Hospital . Out of its reported 384 dengue cases from January to August, of which 24 have already died.

For details on how to donate blood, please call the PNRC hotline at 527-0000 (loc. 150) or visit their website at www.redcross.org.ph.

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