Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 12) – After winning the fight against COVID-19, some survivors are paying it forward by helping doctors better treat coronavirus patients.
Filipino COVID-19 survivor Ian Ceasar Frias donated his blood, which could potentially help another patient recover from the virus.
Dr. Edsel Salvana, an infectious disease expert and a COVID-19 frontliner from PGH explained the recovered patients’ blood is rich in antibodies which could fight COVID-19.
READ: PGH urges COVID-19 survivors to donate blood for recovery efforts
COVID-19 survivors who wish to donate their blood may contact 155-200 or visit the PGH’s Facebook page for more details.
Frias told CNN Philippines he did not expect his donation to be a big deal to the Philippine General Hospital (PGH) doctors, saying he did it with the main reason of helping patients who are suffering from the viral illness recover.
“Yung purpose ko po talaga is para matulungan natin yung critically ill na COVID-19 patient na naka-confine ngayon sa ICU,” Frias said on an interview with CNN Philippines.
[Translation: My purpose is to help the critically ill COVID-19 patients now confined to the ICU.]
Frias also told CNN Philippines he did not expect to be the first COVID-19 survivor to donate his plasma.
“Noong nalaman ko po na pwede po pala kaming mag-donate ng plasma, hindi na po ako nag-dalawang isip na i-contact yung mga doktor sa PGH para magdonate ng plasma,” Frias said in an interview on CNN Philippines.
[Translation: When I found out that we could donate plasma, I didn’t think twice about contacting the doctors at PGH to donate plasma.]
Frias said the experience was similar to those he had as a regular blood donor of Red Cross, except for the use of the Apheresis machine.
The Apheresis machine is able to detect the plasma and divert it into a collection bag while the rest of the blood given back to the donor.
The 31-year-old is a crew member of the Diamond Princess, a coronavirus-hit cruise ship that was docked in Japan. He tested positive for COVID-19 last month.
Upon recovery, he and two other donors joined a blood plasma donation drive at the Philippine General Hospital.
READ: COVID-19 survivors donate blood to help infected patients
