Solidary act: Venezuelans present in the 8th International Marathon “Life is in the Blood”

Thousands of Venezuelan citizens participated in the 8th International Marathon “Life is in the Blood”, an event developed by the Global Embassy of Activists for Peace (GEAP) in Venezuela, during November and December of 2016.

The blood drives were carried out to contribute to the formation of a voluntary, altruistic and regular safe blood donation culture, and to guarantee blood and its components to those who require it.

Capital Region

Activists of the capital region carried out forums and health fairs, such as capacitation with the support and participation of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), the Ministerio del Poder Popular para la Salud and the Municipal Blood Bank.

In this opportunity, 2,775 people participated in 39 blood drives and 315 awareness talks which gave as result 2,101 effective safe blood units.

Central Region

In the states of Aragua, Guarico, and Carabobo, the Activists for Peace carried out different blood drives which allowed the habitants to give their significant contribution by donating voluntarily.

In Aragua and Guarico 89 daily blood drives were developed. Where 3,475 voluntary donors went to donate the sap of life, resulting in 2,666 effective donations.

With blood drives in churches and in the blood bank of Carabobo Lorenzo Hands, of the Unidad Hospitalaria Dr. Enrique Tejera (CHET), the volunteers of the GEAP in Carabobo promoted the voluntary and altruistic donation, where they captured 329 people willing to donate blood, resulting in 283 effective units.

Region Llanos

The volunteers of the Venezuelan plains developed blood drives at plazas, schools, open courts and acoustic courts, in coordination with the blood banks of the states of Barinas, Portuguesa, and Cojedes.

In the activities, 1,513 citizens of this plain region responded to the calling for life, where 784 donated the sap of life, providing the blood banks this vital liquid tissue.

Western Central Region

During November, in the state of Lara blood drives were carried out in the University Central Hospital “Dr. Antonio Maria Pineda”, where 1,320 voluntary donors were attended and 1,095 were accepted.

In the state of Falcon, they started blood drives with a promotion in the headquarters of the Anticancer Society, having the support of the media. The campaigns were carried out in the blood bank of the Hospital Calles Sierra, of Punto Fijo.

In the states Falcon – Yaracuy, 197 people were at the campaigns, where 181 effective units were gathered, contributing to the stocking of the blood banks of the region.

Region of Los Andes

With the support of the Blood Banks of the state of Trujillo and the Central Hospital of Tachira, the Activists went through different plazas of the region in the blood drives, where the citizens participated actively. This campaign reached a total of 1,462 effective units.

Northeast Region

The blood drives were attended by the social insurance Dr. Domingo Guzmán Lander, the social insurance Dr. Cesar Rodríguez Rodríguez and the Hospital Complex Dr. Luis Razetti, Barcelona.

The habitants of this region attended massively to the blood drives, where 754 voluntary donors became anonymous heroes. The Activists gave awareness talks, actions which allowed to inform the masses about this altruistic act that can save the lives of other people.

Guayana Region

With the visit to universities, plazas and with the support of the blood Banks, the activists of Guayana developed blood drives in the states of Bolivar, Delta Amacuro, and Amazonas.

Through awareness talks, the assistants cleared doubts about the myths about blood donation. During the activities, 1,120 people took the decision about being a voluntary donor, being effective 688.

Venezuela active

Venezuelans sympathized by being present in this 8th International Marathon of blood donation, where 11,890 people assisted to the blood drives; action which allowed Venezuela to reach a total of 10,060 effective safe blood units.

Venezuela as the pilot country of the Communicational Education Program for the formation of a voluntary, altruist and regular safe blood donation culture (PEC VIDA), increased the active participation of the citizens through different strategies in the family, community, educational and organizational areas.