Costa Rica: Church recognized for outstanding contribution in obtaining blood donations

July 31, 2013 – Alajuela, Costa Rica…Marilyn Cernas/IAD Staff

The Seventh-day Adventist Church in Costa Rica was recently recognized by the National Blood Bank for being the most successful organization in obtaining blood donations.

Pastor Earnal Scott (left), youth ministries director for the church in Costa Rica, Nicaragua and Panama, holds the award presented by Dr. Patricia Contreras of the National Blood Bank in Costa Rica as Frank Artavia coordinator of the church’s blood drive campaign held earlier this year. The church was recognized on june 14, 2013, as the most successful organization to obtain blood donor volunteers during its” Gota a Gota por mi Projimo” (or Drop by Drop for my Neighbor) campaign. . Image by Javier Sossa/IAD

During a special ceremony held at the University of Costa Rica in San Jose, Dr. Patricia Contreras praised the work of the church, and said it is the most recognized entity with the most blood donor volunteers in Costa Rica

The recognition came as the World Health Organization (WHO) celebrated its World Blood Donor Day on June 14.

According to Contreras, the nation has only 50 percent of blood needs in regards to volunteer donors and the goal is to cover 100 percent of the needs in the country with new and repeat donor volunteers every year.

Dr. Jorge Luis Prosperi, an official of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) in Costa Rica, also thanked the church for its “noblest contribution to society.”

Pastor Earnal Scott, youth ministries director for the church overseeing Costa Rica, Nicaragua and Panama, accepted the award on behalf of the church.

“We know that the people in Costa Rica are interested in saving lives,” said Pastor Scott. “One blood donation can save five lives and the church is prepared to continue campaigning and recruiting volunteer blood donors to save lives.”

Hundreds of Adventist youth and volunteer donors participated in the church’s massive blood drive earlier in March. Image by Ronny Yax

The church, in coordination with the youth ministries department, Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) Costa Rica and the National Blood Bank, began its “Drop by Drop for my Neighbor” blood campaign earlier this year, according to Scott.

For Frank Artavia, an Adventist professional who help coordinate the blood donating campaign, the project was one that brought great opportunity to witness for Jesus.

“We are so excited because hundreds of young people from throughout local Adventist churches donated blood at the Adventist Educational Center in Hatillo, Costa Rica, and sought out potential donors in six rural areas at city hospitals in March as part of the church’s global youth day,” said Artavia.

Image courtesy of Frank Artavia/IAD.

The church’s World Youth Day is a day where millions of young people around the world are mobilized to improve their communities on a specific day in March, this year it took place March 16.

Plans are underway for additional regional blood donor campaigns this year, church leaders said.