A one-month-long campaign to inform and promote voluntary blood donation entitled “Donate blood for healthy world!” will be carried out during May 25 and June 26. It is mainly intended for representatives of the defense forces and employees of the Border Police.
Contacted by IPN for a comment, National Blood Transfusion Center director Svetlana Cebotari said that any person aged between 18 and 60, who does not suffer from chronic or acute diseases, can donate blood. “On the first donation and later, on the other donations, the persons must have an identification paper on them. Surely, particular rules should be respected before the donation and on the eve, like not easing copiously and food rich in fats. Emphasis should be placed on food rich in proteins and vitamins,” stated Svetlana Cebotari. She also recommends drinking more fluids and categorically not drinking alcoholic beverages one day before. On the day of donation and immediately after donation, it is recommended drinking juices, tea or water. On the next days, one can eat anything.
“A person can donate blood once in two months, while plasma once in two weeks,” said the director of the National Blood Transfusion Center. Statistics show that 80% of the blood donors are men and 20% are women. Svetlana Cebotari said such a difference is due to the fact that the women are involved more in housework, care for the children and not always can find time to donate blood.
The National Blood Transfusion Center has branches in Bălţi, Chisinau and Cahul and works from Monday through Saturday. The mobile teams will travel to different localities according to a prearranged timetable.
The blood collection process is organized according to the norms imposed by the public health emergency. These norms provide that at most 50 persons should be served on one donation day during 5-6 hours. “We will travel to the localities that are not in quarantine or where there are not many self-isolating persons,” stated Svetlana Cebotari.
The number of voluntary blood donors in Moldova has increased gradually, rising to 96%. Svetlana Cebotari said this is mainly due to the people’s civic spirit and altruism.
The program of donation days is available online.
