In the first blood donation campaign in Ourém, Hemopa exceeds the target of collected bags
The external campaign, which brings the population closer to Hemopa's services, gathered donors, volunteers, and staff in a strong wave of solidarity
The Pará Center for Hemotherapy and Hematology Foundation (Hemopa), through the Hemonucleus of Capanema, in northeastern Pará, held the 1st Blood Donation Campaign in the municipality of Ourém last Saturday (27). The event took place at the Integrated Physiotherapy Center "Manoel da Silva Muniz" and was supported by the Municipal City Hall, through the Health Department, in addition to the technical collaboration of the Regional Hemocenter of Castanhal.
The initiative mobilized 18 Hemopa staff members in registration, screening, and collection activities, as well as 15 local volunteers who assisted with administrative support, flow guidance, and donor reception. The initial goal was to collect 100 bags of blood, but the result exceeded expectations: 131 attendances were recorded, and 117 bags were collected. This volume is equivalent to approximately 468 blood transfusions, which will benefit patients in the public and private health networks.
First time - The highlight of the campaign was the significant participation of new volunteers: more than half of the attendances (55%) were first-time donors. Many reported that, despite their desire to donate, they were hindered by the distance to Capanema, located almost 60 km from Ourém.
The social worker from Hemopa Capanema, Luiza Helena Progênio de Santana, highlighted the impact of decentralizing actions. “External campaigns shorten the distance between Hemopa and those who wish to donate. In Ourém, more than half of the volunteers were first-time donors, people who had always wanted to but could not due to the difficulty of traveling. Now, many said they will continue donating, and this strengthens the formation of solidarity multipliers in their municipalities,” she emphasized.
Among the volunteers was Ourém resident Eve de Silva, who made her first donation. “Donating blood is an act of solidarity that can save many lives. I have always wanted to participate, but I had not been able to. This was my first donation, and I was very happy to be able to help others,” said the new donor.
Another significant fact was the predominance of women among eligible donors: out of the total, 79 were women and 38 were men. For Hemopa, this prominence shows the potential for spreading the message of solidarity in the region.
Decentralization - The president of the Hemopa Foundation, Paulo Bezerra, reinforced the importance of decentralizing collection to increase access to donation. “Hemopa is increasingly promoting the decentralization of collection in different regions of Pará. Being in municipalities that have never participated in a campaign is very significant. It is another step towards bringing the culture of donation to all regions of the State, with the contribution of the population to strengthen this cause of solidarity,” emphasized the manager.
According to the assessment of social worker Luiza Helena Santana, the campaign in Ourém represented a positive moment to expand and strengthen a collective of people who are supportive and engaged in the mission of helping to save lives. The expectation is that the campaign in Ourém will be just the first of many, consolidating the city as part of the network of solidarity that helps save lives throughout Pará.
