The message that the blood donation is today, in the context of the pandemic, more necessary than ever, is sent for the World Blood Donor Day by the Health Commissioner Stella Kyriakidou.
In particular, the Commissioner stated that "on this Sunday, World Blood Donor Day, I would like to pay tribute to all those who donate blood and blood plasma, and I express my gratitude to people who save lives in this way."
As he recalls, "without your wonderful donations, transfusions, surgeries and certain medications would not be available."
"Every year in the EU, about 25 million blood transfusions are used in a series of life-saving surgeries," she said. In addition, about 8 million liters of blood plasma are used to make life-saving drugs for conditions such as hemophilia and to help those with immune deficiencies.
"This year, as we continue the fight against the pandemic COVID-19"Your donations are needed more than ever", stresses St. Kyriakidou.
"Throughout the pandemic, we asked blood donors to continue their basic health care services. It was encouraging that, despite all the difficulties, the willingness of EU citizens to donate has helped maintain overall blood supply levels - this is the solidarity we are very proud of, "he said.
"As healthcare systems across the EU begin to move away from restrictive measures and selective surgery begins again, many countries now need new blood donations to ensure that surgery can continue. We also need new donations of blood plasma, which plays an active role in combating it COVID-19. Hospitals and blood services across the EU use or test plasma donated by patients who have recovered from COVID-19 to enhance the ability of young patients to fight the virus. Companies are also developing new drugs from this creature. "Plasma donation is therefore more important than ever," she said.
"One thing will always be stable: with blood donation, donors save lives. And for that, we will always be grateful ", he concludes.