She also spoke about the organization of the program: “The program we adopted as the national project, was to be implemented in three areas: the modernization of the Blood Service, the formation of a unified information system for the development of the Blood Service and the promotion of mass donation. Over the time period elapsed the program has involved 65 institutions of the leading Russian regions. They were usually the blood transfusion stations, equipped with high-tech medical equipment. In addition, we have put a computers and server equipment in the Blood Service facilities in order to create a unified information network. In 2011 this direction involves 23 regions, respectively - 23 Blood Service facilities”.
Head of the Health Ministry has commented on figures and the effectiveness of the program: “The total number of donors in the country has increased by 4.2%, the number of plasma donors has increased by 11.6% and the stock of whole blood - by 7.4%. The number of donors from 12 (when we started) per thousand population has risen to 14. Another important factor to attract people to this area was, if I may use that term, pioneer propaganda, because people were very badly informed about it. We have carried out a number of events together with our federal channels (and not just federal), started a special website on the Blood Service. It was very interesting for us, that by the end of 2010, the Russian Federation – represented by our Ministry and the Federal Medical-Biological Agency, as well as the respective communication company, which helped us (it was selected by a competition) - won the most prestigious international award for communication campaigns among the 3 thousand of projects on blood donation. It was recognized as the most social and the most effective one”.
“As for the future date, the 14th June, the second all-Russian campaign “Thank you, donors!” will take place from 13th to 19th June. All events will take place in all 83 regions of the Russian Federation. In Moscow, they will take place not only at the Moscow institutions, but also directly at the Federal Blood Center on Ilyinka where our Ministry is located and where volunteers will honor donors with satin ribbons to thank them for giving blood”, - added Ms. Golikova.
In conclusion, the Minister of Health and Social Development has invited members of the Government and Ministry staff to visit blood transfusion stations to “show their citizenship”.
