Semmelweis University encourages students to donate blood

A blood donation week is held for medical students between 10-16 May organized by Semmelweis University Students’ Union and the Hungarian National Blood Transfusion Service in order to ensure a continuous blood supply even in the current epidemiological situation. As the opening of the event, the rector and leaders of the university, as well as the president and several students of the Semmelweis University Students’ Union donated blood on 10 May at the headquarters of the Hungarian National Blood Transfusion Service. The goal is to have at least 300 students participating in the blood donation event in the upcoming days.

“Blood donation organized for medical students has a history of several decades at the university: I myself donated blood as a medical student”, recalled Dr. Béla Merkely, Rector of Semmelweis University.

The rector emphasized that a year ago, during the first wave of the coronavirus, Semmelweis University also set an example. Students helped to maintain a safe level of blood supplies, even if the number of blood donations decreased as a result of the “stay at home” campaign.

“Now, that we are over the most difficult part of the epidemic, and the third wave of the coronavirus is subsiding, planned surgeries, medical interventions may be realized and there is a greater need for blood donors. After COVID-19 infection, one should wait 3 weeks before donating blood, but following vaccination and after the occasional side-effects wear off, blood donation is possible even a day after”, the rector pointed out.

There have been fewer blood donors in the current epidemiological situation, but now, as the health care system returns to its normal operation, the blood demand of hospitals is constantly increasing. Safe patient care requires 1400-1600 blood donors per day. Currently 1300-1400 people arrive on a daily basis, therefore we very much welcome students”, said Dr. Zsuzsa Nemes-Nagy, Regional Director for Central Hungary of the Hungarian National Blood Transfusion Service. The Hungarian National Blood Transfusion Service would like to thank all Semmelweis students for blood donation with a commemorative card.

This is not the first time that Semmelweis University’s Students’ Union has joined the call of the Hungarian National Blood Transfusion Service.

“Student participation has a very important social message: in the current epidemiological situation, we have shown the power of joint action, with thousands of Semmelweis students taking part in volunteering. Now we would like to set an example again, since a blood donor can save the lives of 3 more people”, said Bálint Tripolszky, President of Semmelweis University’s Students’ Union.

He also added that this year, they want to surpass last year’s numbers in terms of participation and are confident that at least 300 people will take part in this year’s campaign.

On the first day of the blood donation week, Dr. Andrea Matusovits Bayerné, Director General of the Hungarian National Blood Transfusion Service; Dr. Béla Merkely, Rector; Dr. Attila Szabó, Vice-Rector for Clinical Affairs; Dr. Péter Hermann, Vice-Rector for Educational Affairs; Dr. Péter Varga, Director of Healthcare Networking Management; Dr. Péter Nyirády, Director of Vocational Training Institutions; and Bálint Tripolszky, President of Semmelweis University Students’ Union also donated blood.