Oaxaca Launches Campaign to Foster a Culture of Altruistic Blood Donation
The State Blood Transfusion Center (CETS) in Oaxaca faces a constant challenge: ensuring a steady supply of safe and quality blood for the state’s eight regions. While the center has seen a modest but encouraging 8% increase in blood donations since Freddy Alberto Hernández Trujillo took the helm in June, a larger ambition drives his leadership: fostering a culture of altruistic blood donation across Oaxaca.
Shifting From Replacement to Altruism
Currently, 95% of donations in Oaxaca are made through replacement, meaning relatives of patients donate to cover the blood needed for treatment. While functional, this model betrays a lack of an ingrained altruistic culture surrounding blood donation.
“In Oaxaca, we don’t grow up with the understanding that donating blood is a social responsibility,” explained Hernández Trujillo. “Myths and unfounded fears often deter people from this practice.”
To break down these barriers, CETS has launched an educational program aimed at cultivating a spirit of solidarity from a young age. They are partnering with the Ministry of Public Education (SEP) to bring workshops and talks on blood donation to elementary and secondary schools.
“By instilling in children and young people the idea that donating blood is an act of love for one’s neighbor, we can establish generational change,” said Hernández Trujillo.
Universities: Key Partners in a Culture of Giving
Universities will also play a crucial role in transforming blood donation. The “Altruistic University Donors of Oaxaca” program seeks to involve both public and private universities in permanent donation campaigns. The goal is for blood donation to become a routine practice on campuses, generating a ripple effect throughout families and communities.
Extending Access, Addressing Rare Blood Needs
To make donating more accessible, CETS has extended its opening hours, allowing for donations from Monday to Sunday between 7:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m., with a new evening schedule extending until 4:30 p.m., accommodating individuals whose schedules don’t allow them to donate during the day.
CETS also addresses a critical challenge: the need for rare blood types like O negative and AB negative. Recognizing the potential complications during emergencies, particularly in accidents or high-risk pregnancies, CETS has established a registry of donors with these rare blood types to ensure rapid response during critical situations.
Expanding Eligibility for a Generational Shift
The requirements to donate blood in Oaxaca remain accessible: individuals must be between 18 and 65 years old, weigh more than 50 kilograms, have abstained from alcohol and tobacco for 48 hours before donation, and not have suffered recent infections. Notably, individuals with diabetes or controlled hypertension are also eligible to donate, expanding the pool of potential donors.
The impact of one blood donation is immense – each unit can save up to three lives by being broken down into its essential components: red blood cells, platelets, and plasma. As Hernandez Trujillo emphasizes, “Donating blood is donating life.”
His call to action for the people of Oaxaca is clear: join this noble cause and contribute to building a more supportive and aware society, one where a simple act of generosity can profoundly impact lives.
What strategies are being implemented in Oaxaca to shift from a culture of replacement donation to altruistic donation?
## Interview: Fostering a Culture of Blood Donation in Oaxaca
**Interviewer**: Welcome to the show, Freddy Alberto Hernández Trujillo, director of Oaxaca’s State Blood Transfusion Center. Thank you for joining us today.
**Hernández Trujillo**: Thank you for having me.
**Interviewer**: Oaxaca is facing a unique challenge: ensuring a stable supply of safe blood for its diverse regions. You took the helm of CETS in June and have already seen some encouraging results. Can you elaborate on the challenges and the progress made?
**Hernández Trujillo**: Absolutely. While we’ve seen a positive 8% increase in donations since June, our biggest challenge is transitioning from a culture of replacement donation to altruistic donation. Currently, 95% of our donations come from relatives of patients needing immediate transfusions. This, unfortunately, reflects a lack of understanding in our community about blood donation as a social responsibility. [ [1](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30168678/) ]
**Interviewer**: So, it seems there’s a need to shift mindsets and educate the public.
**Hernández Trujillo**: Precisely! That’s why we’ve launched a multifaceted educational program. We are partnering with the Ministry of Public Education to bring age-appropriate workshops on blood donation to schools, starting with elementary and secondary levels. Our aim is to instill in children and young people the idea that donating blood is an act of love and solidarity.
**Interviewer**: That’s a long-term vision. What about the immediate need for blood?
**Hernández Trujillo**: We are also engaging universities through the “Altruistic University Donors of Oaxaca” program. This involves both public and private universities in ongoing donation campaigns.
**Interviewer**: It sounds like you have a comprehensive plan in place. What are your hopes for the future of blood donation in Oaxaca?
**Hernández Trujillo**: My dream is to see Oaxaca become a model for Mexico, where altruistic blood donation is the norm. By educating our youth and involving our universities, I believe we can build a culture where giving blood is seen as a natural, life-saving act of compassion.
