Blood doning in Bize-Minervois

Two or three times per year, the French Blood Service (EFS) organises blood-doning sessions in Bize-Minervois. The medical team comes from Perpignan, assisted by nurses from Carcassonne, and runs the collection from Minervois and Narbonnais villages.

In Bize, thirty to forty willing volunteers respond regularly to the call from the EFS. They are welcomed to the village hall by the local association, overseen by Marc Hallows with the support of Mado Guibert, Elyette Franc and Francine Szumilo. On each occasion, the welcome is warm. In the evening after the blood-doning, a meal, subsidised by the village, is served to everyone in an excellent atmosphere.

The French federation of blood donors, which is made up of 2300 local associations, today guarantees "the highest quality of blood products distributed to the sick, with each donation methodically screened for blood-transmitted diseases."

The local blood donor association in Bize-Minervois needs more volunteers to join. It has launched an appeal, particularly for young people, who can eventually carry on the tradition.

Today, the EFS passes on the hope of raising awareness to more blood donors. At present, at least 800 donors are needed every day at a national level to make up for the shortage, which recurs, because the demands increase more quickly than the donations. To persuade new donors to join and to become regulars, who would give their blood at least twice per year (in reality the average is 1.6) - there are two aims, which EFS promote. Today, I can decide to save lives : dondusang.net (official site).

Special thanks to our translator, Sue Ackloo.

Last Updated (Wednesday, 01 April 2009 09:59)