Urgent Appeal for Blood Contributions
Low Blood Reserves in Portugal: FEPODABES Urges Citizens to Donate
In the summer of 2021, FEPODABES (Federação Portuguesa das Associações de Dadores Benévolos de Sangue), a non-profit institution promoting benevolent blood donation, called upon citizens to donate blood due to critically low reserves across hospitals in Portugal.
This shortage is a common occurrence during the summer months, caused by factors such as vacations, holidays, and disruptions related to the COVID-19 pandemic that reduce the number of regular donors. The organization emphasized the need for blood donations to ensure hospitals could continue providing necessary medical treatments and emergency care that depend on a stable supply of blood.
To address this issue, FEPODABES launched the campaign "Give Blood Before Going on Vacation," encouraging all eligible citizens to donate. The campaign aimed to maintain sufficient blood stocks and save lives. Eligibility for donation includes being over 18, weighing more than 50 kilograms, and being in good health.
In response to the low reserves, the Portuguese Institute of Blood and Transplantation (IPST) has been bringing blood from the Azores and Madeira to help alleviate the current difficult blood situation in Portugal.
FEPODABES also proposed extending blood collection hours to the IPST, with the intention of giving healthy people the opportunity to donate blood in cooler weather at the end of the day. The proposed extension would last until September 15th, particularly at specific centers, allowing for donations after work and at the end of the day.
However, despite these efforts, the situation remains challenging. A_lvaro Beleza, director of the Immuno-Hemotherapy Service at Santa Maria Local Health Unit, noted that blood reserves are low in all hospitals in Portugal, creating a national problem. Additionally, Alberto Mota, president of FEPODABES, regrets that blood collections are still being canceled due to a shortage of staff at the three blood centers.
FEPODABES continues its efforts to disseminate donation among the population and urges citizens to visit the FEPODABES website (www.fepodabes.pt) or download the APP/DSANGUE for information about official blood collection locations. By donating blood, citizens can help ensure that hospitals have the necessary resources to provide life-saving treatments and emergency care.
The news of low blood reserves in Portugal has led FEPODABES to encourage health-and-wellness-conscious individuals to donate blood, especially before their summer vacations in Algarve. The organization believes that this practice, as part of their social responsibility, can make a significant difference in restoring critical blood stocks, particularly in hospitals across Portugal.
