COVID-19 survivor Iza Calzado is willing to donate blood plasma as “potentially lifesaving treatment” of coronavirus patients who are in critical condition.
In a Laging Handa PH press briefing, the 37-year-old actress said that the Philippine General Hospital (PGH) and Makati Medical Center both reached out to her for blood donations.
“The minute I got out, PGH and Makati Med both reached out to me. Meron din parang blood or plasma drive ngayon na pag kayo po ay COVID survivor, pag magaling na po kayo, katulad ko po na nagpapagaling pa, pwede natin i-donate ang plasma natin para makatulong tayo lalo na sa kababayan natin na in critical condition,” she said.
In a screenshot of her conversation with Dr. Geraldine “Ging” Zamora, a consultant at the Philippine General Hospital (PGH) and St. Luke’s Global, Iza said that it will be her advocacy.
Hospitals have appealed for blood donations from recovered COVID-19 patients to help treat and improve the condition of those who are severely ill with the disease.
A Philstar.com report said that “convalescent plasma, the fluid in blood teeming with antibodies post-illness, has proven effective in small studies to treat infectious diseases including Ebola and SARS.”
Iza tested positive for COVID-19 last March 27 after being hospitalized for pneumonia, one of the symptoms caused by the infection.
On March 30, Iza’s manager Noel Ferrer announced her recovery after her retest results came out negative.
“I am alive and for that I am truly grateful. I know that so many of you sent your love and support and I want to express my heartfelt gratitude to all of you,” said Iza in an Instagram post where she shared her COVID-19 journey.
