Red Cross sets blood center in Nueva Vizcaya

By Victor Martin

BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya — The Philippine Red Cross (PRC) inaugurated a blood center, which will cater to  patients and donors from Cagayan Valley and part of the Cordilleras, at the provincial capitol compound in this town on Monday.

Randy Blanco, PRC-Nueva Vizcaya chairman, said the facility is the first and only blood center in Cagayan Valley.

“Before, it took us three to four days before we receive the results. Now, patients as far as Isabela, Cagayan, Quirino and our neighboring towns of Ifugao, Bontoc, Apayao and  Kalinga can avail themselves of our services here,” Blanco said.

He said the facility has a walk-in blood bank refrigerator and testing machines for hepatitis B and C, syphilis, HIV and malaria.

Blanco said indigent patients could avail themselves of free blood under the PRC’s Blood Samaritan program and funds, a tie-up with the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office, private individuals and various local government units.