Education is fundamental in the Dominican Republic: Citizens promoting a culture of voluntary blood donation in the 4th International Blood Drive Marathon
With educational marathons in shopping malls, universities, schools, the Global Embassy of Activists for Peace (GEAP), in partnership with the different blood banks of the country, worked to promote the 4th International Blood Drive Marathon, where education and public awareness on the need of safe blood became the main objective on this occasion.
Several media outlets conceded their space to publicize the objectives of the international campaign “Life is in the Blood” and the work done with these simultaneous marathons in more than 20 countries.
In Sambil Plaza and Diamond Plaza, important places in Santo Domingo, educational activities, health lectures, and registration of volunteers and distribution of promotional material of the marathon took place. The people who signed up were then relocated to the blood bank to make donations.
At the Ramon Emilio Jimenez Lyceum, at the Autonomous University of Santo Domingo (UASD) and the National University Pedro Henríquez Ureña (UNPHU) lectures to raise awareness on the importance of safe, voluntary and habitual blood donation were given. The benefits that this simple act of love towards thy neighbor where shared through educational materials and workshops. An important group of students and teachers welcomed these discussions, which are expected to be the opening to continue with this project in other educational institutions in the Dominican Republic. Many of them were taken to blood banks for voluntary donation.
The closing of the 4th International Blood Drive Marathon was held at the Megacentro Plaza, where activists for peace continued their efforts to promote and attract volunteers to donate blood. Finally, the Dominican Republic achieved a total of 297 volunteer donors, of which 39 were effective units.
