The territorial delegate for Health and Families of the Andalusian Regional Government in Almeria, Juan de la Cruz Belmonte, together with the director of the Blood Transfusion Centre of Almeria, Aref Laarej, have visited the blood collection that continues this Thursday in the Aulario II of the University of Almeria, morning and afternoon from 9.30 am to 1.30 pm and from 5.00 pm to 8.00 pm.
Belmonte Mena highlighted “the generosity of the students and staff of the UAL with this donation, which throughout this day has collected 200 bags of blood, with the aim of doubling this figure tomorrow”. The territorial delegate explained that “last year we were unable to hold this collection due to health restrictions because of Covid-19 and it is a satisfaction to see the response of the students with the Transfusion Centre of Almeria”. For this reason, Belmonte assured that “we have to thank all the people who have come to donate today and all the professionals at the centre who are making the collection possible together with the volunteers from the Brotherhood of Blood Donors in Almeria”.
For his part, Aref Laarej encouraged university students to donate blood because “as surgical activities increase, it is necessary to increase blood reserves”. He also announced that “the University is usually a very important collection point for the Transfusion Centre and after more than a year’s hiatus, the response from students has been gratifying”. Laarej assured that “in recent weeks there has been an increase in surgical activity, which means that the need for plasma derivatives is likely to increase, so we invite everyone over the age of 8 who is in good health to become a donor because it is a necessary asset for everyone”.
In any case, he explained that “in Almeria we have been self-sufficient during the last year and a half of the pandemic, which has allowed us to respond to all the blood needs of the hospitals in the province”. Throughout 2021, 16,500 blood donations have been made in Almeria and 2,850 plasma donations.
The Delegation of Health and Families also wished to thank the University of Almeria for its predisposition and permanent collaboration in the organisation of conferences such as these at the UAL.