Medellin, Antioquia, Colombia…[Libna Stevens/IAD]
More than 2,000 units of blood were donated in two days as part of a nationwide blood drive initiated by the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Colombia. The drive, which took place on July 21 and 22, was the first ever nationwide blood donation campaign initiated in Colombia by any organization, religious or otherwise.”This initiative by the church surprised the National Health Institute which coordinates more than 100 blood banks in the country,” said Alvaro Niño, spokesperson for the church in Colombia in charge of promoting the event.
Thousands of Adventist youth participated in the blood drive, and many volunteered to promote the event in 15 major Colombian cities. The drive also helped launch Inter-America's first Youth Leadership and Prayer Convention, which began a few days later in Medellin on July 24.
According to Niño, youth ministries directors began planning for the blood drive four months ago with the support of the national health institute and the Red Cross who contacted the blood banks. In the last two months, local churches began promoting the blood drive among its membership and the surrounding communities. Under the banner “Jesus gave His blood for me, I give mine for a Colombian”, the campaign was also promoted in shopping malls, public centers and parks.
ño, youth ministries directors began planning for the blood drive four months ago with the support of the national health institute and the Red Cross who contacted the blood banks. In the last two months, local churches began promoting the blood drive among its membership and the surrounding communities. Under the banner “Jesus gave His blood for me, I give mine for a Colombian”, the campaign was also promoted in shopping malls, public centers and parks.”This was an idea that was originated by the Adventist Youth in Brazil years ago which brought much success,” said Niño. “We wanted to take this humanitarian action and make the project part of the Adventist church in Colombia, because, besides being a humanitarian gesture, giving blood is a constant reminder of God's great love to send His Son who gave His blood on the cross.”
The blood drive was also promoted to the thousands of Adventist youth arriving in Medellin for the youth convention, and as a result, nearly 500 donations were collected during the week of the convention.
“We have been so happy that the [Adventist] church has initiated this drive here in Medellin,” said Victoria Villegas, state coordinator of the blood banks in Antioquia. “We have a deficit in our blood banks because the need for blood is greater every day.”
Villegas says the amount of blood collected was smaller than expected, but it will certainly help the 11 blood banks in Antioquia.
“It is sometimes hard to convince people that giving blood is a repetitive act,” said Villegas. “Our culture here in Colombia and the surrounding countries is to donate only during an emergency. We are trying to make people aware that giving blood is a permanent act every three months for men and four months for women who are in good health.”
Magali Gonzalez, 25, a student at Colombian Adventist University in Medellin was a bit uneasy as the needle went into her arm.
“This is the first time that I ever donated blood,” Gonzalez said. “I came with a friend yesterday but got scared at the last minute, but I felt like I had to. I realized that donating my blood I can help save a person’s life.” Gonzalez added that she would donate again.
It was the first time for Elias Velazquez, a 20 year-old student from Sonora, North Mexico. Velazquez who is a youth director at Lomas Adventist Church, said he came to donate blood with friends. Visibly shaken while he waited his turn he said that he decided to give blood because his friends wanted to.
“I feel good being useful doing this, especially that I have O negative, a rare blood type, and there are so many banks that are scarce of blood,” he added. Velazquez went on to say that by going through the experience, he is going to plan to organize a blood drive with his youth church group once he gets back to Mexico.
The number of donations may have been greater, but many young people visiting from outside Colombia were prohibited from donating because of health risks.
This blood campaign has placed the church in Colombia into a better standing, particularly in Medellin. As the demand for blood is greater than the supply, Medellin officials have requested that the church run a blood drive twice a year, and many blood banks have called to be considered as recipients, according to Niño.
ño. “We as a church want to continue contributing to the welfare of others here in Colombia and because word has gone out with this blood drive, there are other projects on the table for which the National Health Institute is soliciting our assistance ,” said Niño.
Located on the northern tip of South America, Colombia has more than 244,000 Seventh-day Adventists worshiping in 1,031 churches and congregations.
