8K patients assisted by Red Cross during Holy Week

Photo by Red Cross

The Philippine Red Cross assisted more than 8,000 people including drowning and seizure patients over the weekend.

On Monday, PRC said the country’s largest humanitarian agency helped 8,844 people in its Holy Week Safety Assistance program. The PRC also sent aid to 486 patients with minor cases such as wounds, cramps, and nausea; and 11 with major complaints such as unconsciousness, sprain, dizziness, convulsion, fainting, and back pain.

The PRC also provided welfare services, including psychosocial support, tracing and referral to some 430 individuals, as well as monitoring the blood pressure count of 7,890 patients.

As of 10 a.m. of April 2, the PRC had already transported 27 patients who needed further medical assistance due to drowning, dizziness, body pain, convulsion, and numbness. This includes the transportation assistance given to three persons in Catanduanes and in San Juan, and Laiya, Batangas due to near-drowning.

Photo by Red Cross

From March 26 to Apr 1, PRC set up more than 200 first aid and welfare stations, mobilized 75 ambulances, and deployed some 1,500 staff and volunteers in public areas nationwide such as churches, beaches and resorts, bus and gas stations, ports and terminals.

The PRC volunteers were also sighted at various tourist destinations such as Calaguas Island in Camarines Norte; Daraitan River in Tanay, Rizal; Pico de Loro and Mt. Maculot in Batangas; and beaches and resorts in Coron and Puerto Princesa, Palawan.

In a statement, PRC Chair Richard Gordon commended all the PRC volunteers who helped during the observance of the Holy Week and the partners and donors of PRC.

“The success of this operation would not have been possible without the help of our partners and corporate donors who have always been committed to help us alleviate human suffering regardless of race, beliefs, and nationalities,” Gordon said. /je