THE PHILIPPINE National Red Cross (PNRC) urged the government to deploy six medical technologists due to the high demand of patients needing blood.
“We really need assistance from the government. At least they could helps us in terms on adding our personnel,” said Editha C. Mandaguia, administrator of PNRC-Davao Chapter.
Mandaguia said the PNRC has insufficient funds to add more personnel, allocating P17,000 per month for one medical technologist alone.
The center currently has three medical technologists to 40 patients who flock to the center daily requesting platelet concentrates. With a surge of requests from a maximum of 20 on the first half last year, the center is already facing a shortage in blood supply.
Mandaguia said the increase attributed to the influx of dengue cases. Based on the records from the City Health Office, there were 2,478 cases with 23 deaths of the mosquito-borne diseases since January.
But despite a reduction in the number of patients, the need for additional manpower is still needed.
Aside from the medical technologists, Mandaguia said the center needs an additional nurse and record bookkeeper since the center currently have one record bookkeeper and one city paid nurse.

Meanwhile during the regular session on Tuesdasy, Councilor Marissa Salvador-Abella urged the blood banks to extend the working hours in order to accommodate more patients in need of platelet concentrates.
Abella said in her privilege speech that the blood banks, including that of the Department of Health and Philippine National Red Cross, are unable to accommodate more patients due to their limited working hours.
“The need for this vital blood does not choose a time or day. It can happen even after working hours or even on weekends,” Abella said, adding that the institutions were open until 5 p.m.
But Mandaguia said the PNRC is already open beyond the regular office hours. She said the PNRC is open from 8 am until 11 pm every Monday to Sunday. She said they used to open 24 hours a day but they moved it only in that fixed time since they observed that there were no requests after 11 pm.
Both the PNRC and the councilors will meet today at the Sangguniang Panlungsod to discuss the problem.