Colombia | Citizens donate blood in campaigns for life

The 11th International Blood Drive Marathon "With love from my heart I donate blood and save lives" was held in Colombia from June 1 to 30, where 9,800 citizens were sensitized about the importance of donating blood, and joined this campaign for life.

 

7,500 units of blood was the result of the workshops held in Bogotá, Villavicencio, Cartagena, Sincelejo, Santa Marta, Bucaramanga, Cúcuta, Neiva, Barranquilla, Popayán, Cali, Pereira, Armenia, Tunja and Rioacha, a figure that contributed to the supply of blood banks in these regions of the country. (See: List of municipalities that participated in the 11th International Blood Drive Marathon)                                                                        

                                                                                                           

The Global Embassy of Activists for Peace (GEAP) in Colombia implemented voluntary blood drives in parks, shopping centers, squares, companies, hospitals, churches, schools, supermarkets, communities, with the purpose of facilitating the participation of the community.

 

The blood drive marathon was supported by government entities and coordinated with 51 blood banks, and 44 institutions from all over the country participated. (See: List of blood banks and institutions that participated in the 11th International Marathon)

 

The GEAP volunteers gave short talks to publicize:

 

• Values ​​and principles that are reflected when donating blood

• Benefits when donating blood and myths that impede donation

• Requirements to donate blood

 

The events of the 11th International Marathon included the presence of Nohora Gutiérrez, director of the Blood Bank of the Departmental Hospital of Villavicencio; and Nubia Esperanza Torres, director of the Acacias Hospital.

 

Omaira Medina, a voluntary blood donor, mentioned in an interview that this is her first time as a blood donor, and she testified that on one occasion a family member needed this vital liquid and it was very difficult to obtain it. 

 

 

Lorena Castro, a bacteriologist at the Blood Bank of the San Jorge University Hospital, called on the community to donate blood on a regular and voluntary basis. "When we donate blood, we save three lives and that is important because there are always sick patients in San Jorge Hospital," she said..

 

On June 5, the director of the blood bank of the Red Cross section Quindío, Diana Rodríguez and the departmental coordinator of the GEAP, Gildardo López, participated in the program Magazine El Yipao regional channel Telecafé, in order to promote the conference of blood donation.

 

On June 7, a drive was held in the department of Valle, where the support of the GEAP Symphony Orchestra in Colombia was available.

 

On June 12, in Santa Marta, the Waacar Blood Bank signed a cooperation agreement with the GEAP, and on June 14, the commitment to the Hemocentro del Centro Oriente Colombiano (HCOC) was ratified. On this occasion the official delivery of the cooperation agreement was made.