Castilla y León for Life: Celebrating the Blood Donor Awards in Soria

This morning the delivery of the ‘Castilla y León for life’ awards, organized by the Federation of Blood Donors, took place in the Aula Magna Tirso de Molina de Soria capital. With Soria and Burgos leading the donation index and Castilla y León being the second region in Spain with the highest percentage of donations, more than a hundred people gathered today with much to celebrate.

In total, this morning 48 awards were given to donors of all ages and provinces of Castilla y León, although the highest rate of donors is among those over 46 years of age. It is estimated that 9 out of 10 people will need at least a blood transfusion once in their life. The work of the donor brotherhoods allows the Blood Banks to have blood, platelets or plasma and that there are sufficient stocks to meet the transfusions that patients need.

“Right now we are in very good health,” highlighted Francisco del Amo, president of the Federation of Donor Brotherhoods, about the situation of the region’s reserves. He has assured that this year, in general, the figures from previous years in the region are improving, although in some provinces it has decreased. However, today is a day to “share all the donors in our Community.” “This is one of the most beautiful awards that can be given to donors, because it is made in three different age groups: up to 25 years old, up to 45 years old and from 46 years old. When recognition is given to people who have many donations, people with gray hair always appear and today we see a lot of young people, which is the nice thing and they are the ones who have to step up,” he added. In Soria, 25% of blood donors are under 25 years of age.

José Luis Molina Medina, president of the Brotherhood of Soria, pointed out that in this group “we are few and it is a pride that the Brotherhoods from other provinces come.” And Molina has recalled that “what it is about is that there is no lack of blood in Castilla y León and that is achieved between all the Brotherhoods, here we are a drop of water in the sea” and that is why collaboration between provinces, citizens and health system. “This year there has been a little problem with the doctor and we have fewer donations than last year, but we are going to solve the problem in the best way,” he noted.

Institutional representatives

Regarding the absence of the necessary health professionals, which put the donation system in check for a few weeks, Yolanda de Gregorio, Territorial delegate of the Board in Soria, pointed out that it is a problem that has been solved and that it has not only affected this province. . Even so, De Gregorio has apologized “for the days in which it has not been possible to carry out the extractions due to not having doctors” and has stressed that Soria is a reference in the field of blood donation. Benito Serrano, president of the Provincial Council, recalled that “donating is life” and called on “everyone who can to donate.”

For her part, Virginia Barcones, Government delegate in Soria, has valued the work of these donors and the Brotherhoods. “Today is a good day to call on young people to donate,” she added, highlighting the importance of the blood bank “always being full.” “This ability to attract more donors so that donations continue to increase says a lot about a society,” she added, congratulating all the winners. Also present at the event were Miguel Latorre, deputy delegate of the Government in Soria, and Carlos Martínez, mayor of the capital.