At the Mexican Social Security Institute (IMSS) only 1.08 percent of the blood it receives comes from altruistic donors.
In addition, of the total of possible donors evaluated in the IMSS, 63 percent are accepted; however, altruistic donors only correspond between one and two percent on average.
For this reason, Dr. Pedro Paz Solís, coordinator of Donation and Transplantation of Organs, Tissues and Cells, during a meeting with mothers and fathers of children ill with cancer, called on them to join efforts with the institutional authorities, in order to increase donations.
He stated that the Institute has Type A Blood Banks in High Specialty Medical Units (UMAE), type B, in general hospitals, as well as Collection Centers. Whole blood donation takes 8-10 minutes and platelet donation takes 90 minutes.
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During the forty-first meeting between IMSS authorities, Dr. Paz Solís highlighted the importance of promoting altruistic donation among family members and friends of minors undergoing cancer treatment, due to the constant need for blood products that these patients require.
Within this framework, he invited mothers and fathers to participate periodically in the intensive campaigns carried out by the Blood Banks and in the 35 IMSS Representations in the states.
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“Under the premise that at some point we are all going to require a blood product, it may be to ourselves or to a family member, we must donate blood because it is a gift of life,” he said during a meeting that took place virtually.
For his part, the National Oncology coordinator, Dr. Enrique López Aguilar, announced the implementation of a State Reference Center for the Care of Boys and Girls with Cancer (ONCOCREAN) at the Regional General Hospital (HGR) No. 2 “El Marqués” in Querétaro.
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He explained that in this State Reference Center the child with leukemia and other less complex cancers will be cared for, with a minimum capacity of 10 beds, two isolated and one accompaniment.
He added that by having adequate capacity and health personnel, in HGR No. 2 minors with cancer in their state of origin will be cared for by three pediatric onco-hematologists, which will speed up treatment and decrease to zero the dropout rate.
López Aguilar explained that work tables were started with the supply area of the coordination of this hospital to have the necessary supplies. In addition, steps were taken to implement a type “B” Blood Bank in HGR No. 2.
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