Description
The project aims to support and enhance the social welfare services for socially vulnerable groups such as multi- transfused patients and also children, young people, elderly and disabled people who need blood transfusions for any reason. The project is considered valuable, due to “Agapi” is the only Blood Donor Association that take action in this geographical area. Also, Greece has a serious shortage in blood donation and is forced to import units of blood from foreign countries, in order to cover the needs of various hospitals all over the country. In order to achieve this goal “Agapi” aims to maintain, strengthen, intensify and broaden its actions, such as Blood Donation Campaigns, actions for the increase of number of stem cell and platelet donors and other actions for the information and awareness of the people. More specifically, it will be carried out 65 voluntary external blood donations in schools, enterprises, various landmarks of the city of Xanthi etc. In addition, the Association aims to gather at least 100 samples of platelets and at least 100 samples of stem cells.
Summary of project results
Greece has serious shortages in the provision of health services in the field of blood donations, leading to serious problems in health for those suffering from Thalassemia, Hemophilia and Cancer. A typical example is the need to import bottles of blood from foreign countries, such as Switzerland (approx. 30,000 bottles), to meet the needs of various hospitals in the country. Τhe project has contributed to the increase of the welfare service delivery in socially vulnerable groups such as multi-transfused patients and also children, young people, elderly and disabled people who need blood transfusions for any reason such as surgeries, accidents, or diseases. The deficiencies of the State in the sector of Blood Donation as well as the lack of activity of a similar organization in the geographical area of Xanthi, are making the work of the Blood Donor Association of Prefecture of Xanthi “Agapi”, valuable and irreplaceable. During this project, 90 voluntary blood donations were conducted in collaboration with the bloodmobile units of The General Hospital of Xanthi and the Children’s Hospital of Athens “Saint Sofia”, in schools, factories, central spots of the town, trade unions and businesses, as well as in municipality divisions of the prefecture of Xanthi, even in the most remote areas. From those voluntary blood donations, 1.136 benefited, 5.944 units of blood were collected, while 2.753 units of blood were given to those who were in direct transfusion need. Meanwhile, the ‘Platelet Donors Network’ was strengthened with 59 new volunteers that offered platelet in the University Hospital of Alexandroupoli, the General Hospital of Thessaloniki George Papanikolaou and the General Hospital of Thessaloniki Ipokratio, as well as the ‘Stem Cells Donors Network’ that was strengthened with 130 new donations.
Summary of bilateral results