Red Cross eyes tie-ups with Mactan hospitals

THE Philippine Red Cross (PRC) is partnering with five hospitals in Mactan, Cebu to strengthen their disaster preparedness efforts.

The partnership would establish health and welfare desks in these hospitals providing a more effective and well-coordinated emergency response, triage, and trauma services during disasters, said former senator and PRC chairman Richard Dick Gordon. He’s set to sign an memorandum of understanding with these hospitals.

“The MOU will ensure that the parties will be able to provide and maximize their services and emergency response systems in cases of mass casualties and disasters,” said Gordon.

He was a guest speaker in a forum of  the Cebu Federation of Beat Journalists (CFBJ) held at the Casino Español in Cebu City.

Hospitals based in Mactan include the Mactan Doctors Hospital, Lapu-Lapu District Hospital, Tojong Maternity and General Hospital and the Our Lady of the Rule Maternity and General Hospital.

Gordon said that through the partnership, PRC could also help its hospital partners avail of PNRC blood supply.

As of Friday, PNRC has listed 4, 069 available bags of blood. Of this number, 113 bags are with their Region 7 offices./Chief of Reporters Doris C. Bongcac