Davao City lacks blood
Several days ago a Davao daily reported about it. Yesterday I received a text message from one of our former clients helping him to get a blood transfusion because of an emergency operation. It was difficult, but we could help him.
As we could learn a couple of days ago: Davao City, although it is the biggest user of blood supply as it houses all major hospitals, has the least volume of readily availble blood in the whole region making it difficult for the city to deal with emergencies that require blood transfusions.
In comparison, Panabo City in Davao del Norte has been a consistent national awardee for having the biggest volume of blood donated for the past three years. Also in the province of Compostela Valley we can see a stable supply in their blood bank, because blood letting is already part of the barangay activities there.
What do you think? How is it in your place here in the Philippines?
Or, as an ex pat, does your embassy in the Philippines provide you with a blood bank, as the German Embassy Manila does so?
I am pretty sure, that many comments could really help all readers…
Hi Klaus,
I had no idea that that some embassies had their own blood banks for their citizens. Talk about emergency preparedness! I doubt my embassy has such a service, but I could be wrong.
Hi Martin, I don’t know from which country you are and where you are living in the Philippines. But try to contact your embassy and inquire… if you a re successful, please let us know. Such information are very important… THANKS…
Hi Klaus.
This is very helpful info, since my wife and I are planning to stay in RP for some length of time. I doubt that the Danish embassy have a blood bank, and the the embassy is in Manila, and we will stay in Davao.
Just to make sure I understand you correct, if either one of us need an bloodtransfusion, do we have to bring blood ourselves or what?
Thank you for your info.
Hi Preben, thanks for stopping by. Of course, the German Embassy is also in Manila. I am not sure if it is needed to bring your own blood. You can check this with your embassy. Most all Asians, as I learned, have blood type “0+”. I have “A+”. The guy, who asked our help, had “AB”, which was only available in a small amount in the Red Cross Blood Bank Davao.
I only heard of blood bank in the hospitals but not at embassies. Blood is a perishable item and also it need to be stored with care in medical equipment. Sometime when there is an emergency, your friend may need blood, The blood you donate is use to replace the one that is taken by him at the blood bank. A person must be free from diseases among others to be a blood donor. Maybe someone can come up with a blood donation drive in your locality and this will eventually make into a regular affair.
Hi Fun, thanks for stopping by and share your information with us. Some embassies are working together with hospitals and their blood banks. In Davao City also the philippine red cross operates a blood bank.