MANILA, Philippines — Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri, who recently recovered from coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), donated his blood plasma at the Philippine General Hospital (PGH) on Tuesday in a bid to help patients still battling the disease.
Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri donates blood plasma at the Philippine General Hospital after recovering from COVID-19. (Photo courtesy of Sen. Zubiri)
Last month, Zubiri disclosed that he contracted COVID-19. He was the first senator to be diagnosed followed by Senators Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III and Sonny Angara.
On April 12, Zubiri announced his recovery.
“I was very lucky to have recovered with no complications. But that is not the case for many other patients, whose bodies are less prepared to fight this disease. If plasma donations can help them in any way, then I am more than happy to offer mine,” the senator said in a statement.
While a vaccine to prevent the disease has yet to be developed, medical experts are looking at the possibility of extracting COVID-19 antibodies from recovered individuals in order to finally come up with a treatment, Zubiri noted.
Sen. Zubiri donating 500ml of his plasma for the PGH’s Plasma antibody program. Together with PGH head Dr. Gerardo Legaspi and their team composed of Dr. Jonas Del Rosario, Dr Pedrito Tagayuna, Dr. Tad Hinunangan, Dr. Mark Ang and Nurse Rex Fadrigo. (Contributed photo)
Patients who have so far been administered the plasma treatment at the PGH and St. Luke’s Medical Center showed significant improvements in their conditions, the senator added.
“All of us healthier, perhaps younger people who have been blessed with full recovery from COVID-19—we need to go donate. It’s a fairly simple process, and you’ll be able to help so many people,” he said.