Every June 14, we celebrate World Blood Donor Day. This is a key date, created with the purpose of recognizing and honoring those who, with their generous and selfless act, save lives through blood donation.
Why is it important to establish a culture of blood donation in Peru?
It is of great importance to establish a culture of blood donation in Peru because this act saves lives directly. The general coordinator of Por Ti Mi Sangre (For You, My Blood), Rosa Bejarano, commented that in the last 10 years only 1.28% of the Peruvian population has donated blood, of which only 13.26% did so voluntarily.
According to MINSA (the Ministry of Health), during 2023, just over 400,000 units of blood were collected in our country, of which 100,000 units correspond to voluntary donations.
However, 77% of these units were collected for replenishment and only 23% were collected voluntarily. The main inconvenience of replenishment donors is that, for patients who require prolonged treatments, it becomes an unsustainable practice. Hence, it is necessary to have voluntary donors who can contribute to reducing the number of deaths due to lack of blood units, Bejarano emphasized.
World Blood Donor Day: What are the requirements for donating blood in Peru?
The requirements to donate blood in Peru, according to EsSalud (Peruvian Social Health Security), are the following:
- Being between 18 and 60 years of age. Including 65 years old for frequent donors.
- Weighing more than 50 kilograms.
- Being in good health.
- Not having donated blood in the last 3 months (for men) or 4 months (for women).
- The WHO does not advise donating blood to women who have given birth in recent months or who are in the breastfeeding period.
- Having a valid identity document.
- Not having had tattoos or piercings done in the last 12 months.
Meeting these requirements guarantees that blood donated is safe and beneficial for those who receive it.
Por Ti Mi Sangre and its role in inculcating a culture of donation in Peru
Por Ti Mi Sangre is one of the four social enterprises that make up the second portfolio of the Entrepreneurial Fund, the Wiese Foundation’s social innovation and impact investment program.
This distinction demonstrates the recognition of their work in the promotion and encouragement of voluntary blood donation in Peru. Thanks to this selection, Por Ti Mi Sangre will receive a percentage amount of the total of S/150,000, aside from personalized professional advice and other benefits for one year.
But, what does Por Ti Mi Sangre do exactly and how is it directing its energies to inculcate the culture of blood donation? Por Ti Mi Sangre promotes and encourages blood donation through educational and awareness campaigns, promoting voluntary and regular donation as an altruistic and beneficial act for the community.
Here, we list some of the actions that it has been carrying out:
- Establishing alliances with medical institutions, universities and companies
Por Ti Mi Sangre has forged strategic alliances with various medical institutions, universities and companies in order to strengthen their work in the promotion of blood donation. These alliances allow them to expand their reach and reach more people interested in donating. Working together, they organize campaigns, donation events, and informational talks on the university campuses, medical centers, and workplaces of partner companies. These collaborations also contribute to raising awareness in the community about the importance of being a voluntary and regular donor.
- Building hemo-buses
It has also invested in the construction of hemo-buses equipped with the necessary infrastructure to carry out mobile campaigns to collect blood units. These hemo-buses are mobile units that can travel to different districts and communities, bringing the opportunity to volunteer to more people. This initiative has been fundamental in increasing the rate of blood collection, especially in rural or hard-to-access areas.
- Offering informative talks
Por Ti Mi Sangre organizes and offers informative talks at community events, health fairs, universities, and businesses. These talks are designed to educate the population about the benefits of blood donation, the requirements to be a donor, the donation process and the common myths surrounding this altruistic act.
- Training and guiding potential donors
Also, Por Ti Mi Sangre offers training and guidance to potential volunteers on the requirements and procedures for donating blood safely and effectively. This training includes detailed information on the eligibility criteria to be a donor, the health benefits for them, care before and after the donation, as well as the importance of maintaining good health to continue with this altruistic act.
