Shaimardanov: The campaign to collect blood for palliative patients should be popularized

4 February 2021, Thursday

On February 4 and 5, the Republican Blood Center hosts The Andrey Donation Campaign to collect blood for palliative patients. It is timed to coincide with World Cancer Awareness Day.

"Today's action coincided with the World Cancer Day. Although palliative medicine does not involve blood transfusions, 30% of all palliative patients are cancer patients. About 20% go through surgeries. Of course, these patients need blood transfusions and medications. Therefore, the campaign draws the public's attention to this problem," said Ilsur Shaimardanov, chief freelance specialist in palliative care of the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Tatarstan.

According to Shaimardanov, about 7 thousand people die from malignant neoplasms in Tatarstan every year. Of these, 80% need palliative care, including blood transfusions.

The Andrey Donation Campaign was initiated by Alla Protas in 2018 when her husband was one of the palliative patients. The event is organized jointly with the non-profit organization We Are Together. Its goal is to create a supportive environment for cancer patients and their families.

"At the end of 2017, my husband Andrey learned about cancer diagnosis. We were immediately told that he had a palliative stage, in which there was no possibility of recovery. He survived for several months thanks to a blood transfusion. It has extended the term of his life. After he died, I realized that it is crucial to collect blood for people with a palliative diagnosis," Protas said, adding that the first action was held a few months after the death of her husband.

She clarified that the charity event helps to defend the rights of palliative patients. "We show that they also need blood transfusions. We are currently collecting several hundred liters of blood for palliative patients. About 300 people participated last year."

More than 50 people came to help patients in need in the first hours of the campaign. Donors kept in mind the coronavirus precautions and kept a distance when registering. Then they were given a balloon or a commemorative gift as a reward. By the way, the red ball,  as Alla Protas explained, is a symbol of blood. That is why they give read ballons to donors annually.

This year, the charity event stepped outside of Kazan for the first time. It was held in Yoshkar-Ola on February 2, and on February 8, it will be held in Volgograd.

"Our dream is to take action outside of Kazan and the region, to make sure that it is supported in Russia. We hope this will come true, and we are working towards this goal. Each liter of blood is a few extra days that a dying person can spend with their loved ones. Palliative diagnosis is an improvement in the quality of life," she concluded.

Kazan residents can help those in need of blood transfusions on February 4 and 5 at the Republican Blood Center from 7.30 to 13.00.

https://www.tatar-inform.ru/news/health/04-02-2021/shaymardanov-aktsiyu-po-sboru-krovi-dlya-palliativnyh-patsientov-nuzhno-populyarizovat-5803848