Walk at Utinga Park Reinforces the Importance of Organ and Tissue Donation
Action by Sespa, in partnership with various institutions and supporters, brought together transplant recipients, students, and health professionals
The Green September campaign in Pará, which highlights the importance of organ and tissue donation, received further support on Saturday (14) with the action "Morning in the Park," held at the Camillo Vianna State Park of Utinga in Belém. With the theme "To donate is to sow a new life," the initiative was promoted by the State Department of Public Health (Sespa), through the State Transplant Center (CET), and by the Santa Casa de Misericórdia Foundation of Pará (FSCMPA), in partnership with the Hemopa Foundation, the Municipal Health Department of Belém (Sesma), and a network of supporters.
To encourage organ and tissue donation, the program included a walk, distribution of educational materials inside and outside the Park, guidance on the donation process, playful activities, an ecumenical celebration of gratitude, and testimonials from transplant recipients.
Raimundo Luiz Freitas, who received a liver six months ago, participated in the walk and said, "My gratitude is eternal to the donor's family, who gave me this second chance to live. It was three years of struggle until the transplant. But today I am well. I know it is difficult for families to authorize donation in a moment of pain, but this gesture saves lives."
Awareness - The mobilization also included representatives from Sespa, Santa Casa, Hemopa, and Sesma, as well as students and professors from the University of the Amazon (Unama), Ananindeua campus.
For nursing student Lucas Morgan, participation is a way to raise awareness. "I always make it clear to my family that I am a donor. We need to talk about this and combat misinformation. Since I started the course, I encourage my friends and family to do the same," he emphasized.
Numbers in Pará - Between January and July 2025, Pará performed 266 transplants: 205 corneas, 36 kidneys, 16 bone marrow, six livers, and three osteomuscular. The numbers have already surpassed those of 2024, which recorded 32 multiple organ donations. The decentralization of the process is also advancing, with regional hospitals trained to identify donors and support procurement in the interior.
The coordinator of the State Transplant Center of Sespa, Alfredo Abud, reinforced the importance of dialogue within families. "Even with advances, the refusal rate is still high. Therefore, we need to raise awareness in society. Talking about donation is essential, as this simple gesture can save many lives," he stated.
He reminded that a single donor can benefit up to 11 patients. "Donation is a legal, safe process governed by federal agencies. Each act of solidarity represents hope and quality of life for thousands of people waiting in the transplant queue across the country," added Alfredo Abud.
The coordinator also announced that other actions will be carried out until the end of the month, such as initiatives in the Pará State Series B championship, at universities, and in Praça Batista Campos.
Anyone can be a potential organ and tissue donor. There is no need for registration in a notary or official documents. Just inform the family of the desire to donate, as authorization depends exclusively on the relatives.
Upcoming programs:
• 09/19 – Mini-course on Methodology | 8 AM to 12 PM | CET/Sespa
• 09/20 – Mobilization at the Clube do Remo game | 8:30 PM | Mangueirão Stadium
• 09/23 – 5th Green September Symposium | 2 PM to 6 PM | Unama BR
• 09/23 – Mobilization at the Paysandu game | 7:30 PM | Curuzu Stadium
• 09/28 – "Morning in the Square" | 8 AM to 12 PM | Praça Batista Campos
• 09/28 – Closing: mobilization at the Clube do Remo game | 8:30 PM
Text: Suellen Santos - Ascom/Sespa
