National Blood Center seeks to increase voluntary blood donors in the DR to 200,000

Santo Domingo. — The National Hemocenter reported that the Dominican Republic still faces a deficit of voluntary blood donors, which is why it has set a goal of reaching 200,000 registered people to ensure timely supply in the country’s health centers.

The director of the institution, Pedro Sing Ureña, explained that having a greater number of donors will allow for sufficient and safe blood to be available to respond to the needs of patients who require transfusions for emergencies, surgeries, or medical treatments.

The specialist highlighted that the lack of blood continues to be a concern for many families when a loved one urgently needs a transfusion.

With the goal of expanding the donor base, it was announced that the National Blood Center will develop a recruitment campaign in coordination with universities, with the intention of increasing the number of registered volunteers, which currently stands at around 62,000, to reach 200,000.

Sing Ureña also underscored the importance of strengthening blood group reserves with lower availability, including O negative, A negative, and B negative, which are considered essential for addressing emergency situations.

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The official indicated that the culture of donation has shown progress in recent years. He recalled that in 2020 the donation rate was 10 per thousand inhabitants and voluntary donation represented less than one percent of the total.

Likewise, he pointed out that the country has improved its performance in international blood donation indicators. According to data presented by the director of the National Blood Center, the Dominican Republic currently ranks eighth among 21 countries that report information to the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), with a rate of 15.3 donations per thousand inhabitants.

The authorities reiterated the call for the population to become voluntary donors, highlighting that a single donation can contribute to saving several lives and strengthening the availability of blood throughout the national health system.