LIMA, Feb. 12 (Xinhua) — Voluntary blood and platelet donation is once again at the center of Peru‘s health agenda with the “Allies for a Dream” campaign, promoted by the National Institute of Children’s Health (INSN) of San Borja, in Lima, in favor of pediatric cancer patients.
The initiative has been developed within the framework of the International Day to Fight Childhood Cancer, which is celebrated every February 15, and seeks to raise awareness among citizens about the urgency of having voluntary donors for complex oncological treatments.
This campaign is being carried out for the fifth consecutive year, aimed at guaranteeing the supply of blood and platelets, essential supplies for children with leukemia, post-transplant patients and minors undergoing surgeries.
In this sense, the head of the Hemotherapy and Blood Bank Service of the INSN of San Borja, Joe Avendaño, pointed out in conversation with Xinhua that voluntary donation continues to be one of the main challenges of the Peruvian health system.
“Lately, the percentage of voluntary donation (…) is still very low in Peru compared to the region. We are one of the last countries, but from what we were, at 0.5 percent to 1 percent in the last three years, and after the (impact of the COVID epidemic) we have advanced 20 percent of voluntary donation,” he indicated.
The specialist explained that, although the progress is significant, the country is still far from meeting the real demand required for pediatric oncology services, especially in highly complex centers such as the institute to which it belongs.
Avendaño specified that children with leukemia cannot produce blood cells due to damage to the bone marrow, so they absolutely depend on frequent transfusions to continue treatments.
He indicated that, although the Ministry of Health covers chemotherapy, surgery, radiotherapy and transplants, blood cannot be acquired through any administrative mechanism, which makes voluntary donation an irreplaceable act.
In this context, the call to citizens is aimed at understanding that each donation can make the difference between the continuity or interruption of vital treatment for minors.
Avendaño stressed that the campaign also seeks to raise awareness about early diagnosis, since the initial symptoms of childhood cancer are usually mild and easily confused with common conditions, such as persistent fatigue, paleness, spontaneous bleeding or the appearance of bruises without previous blows.
“In Peru, per year, an average of 1,500 to 2,000 children are diagnosed with cancer. Of those 1,500 to 2,000, approximately 500, 400 children are treated here. Many times the diagnosis is late, and probably 40 or 50 percent of those children, perhaps, will no longer be with us in the coming years,” he explained.
The specialist stressed that, when the disease is detected in time, the chances of cure increase considerably, which reinforces the importance of timely detection and continuous access to transfusions.
The “Allies for a Dream” campaign seeks to transmit a message of life, focused on the dreams of children who face cancer and who aspire to grow, study and develop fully. End
date: 2026-02-12 22:03:00
Worth a look