Red June: Hemopi calls on donors and raises awareness about blood donation Hairdresser Débora Teixeira, 42 years old, a blood donor for years, experienced a "switch of roles" when she needed to receive transfusions after developing severe anemia and undergoing surgery this year. This Sunday (14), World Blood Donor Day, history reinforces the importance of donating to those in need. Débora was opening her own beauty salon in Teresina when she needed to seek medical attention after feeling constant tiredness and shortness of breath. Tests showed severe anemia, with low levels of hemoglobin and iron. ✅ Follow the g1 Piauí channel on WhatsApp During the investigation, doctors identified a uterine fibroid, which caused heavy bleeding and needed to be removed by surgery. After iron replacement, she improved, but started bleeding again about two weeks before the procedure. "The day before the surgery, my hemoglobin was already low again. It had dropped to 7.6 and I needed blood transfusions to undergo surgery safely", he reported. World Blood Donor Day: Hemopi records 770 donations in the first week of Red June and reinforces the importance of regular donation Personal file During surgery, Débora received two bags of red blood cells and one bag of plasma. "If it weren't for the blood bags, I wouldn't have been able to have the surgery and solve the problem that was making me sick. Severe anemia is a health problem that can lead to death," he said. The experience also allowed Débora to learn about the other side of donating blood: that of those who need to receive transfusions. "I've always been a blood donor, so I always knew its importance. But when I received the transfusion I really felt grateful to the people who donate blood," she said. At home, still recovering, the hairdresser highlighted that, in addition to the importance of donations, the support of family and friends was fundamental during the process. Hemopi seeks to increase the number of donations On World Blood Donor Day, the Piauí Hematology and Hemotherapy Center (Hemopi) reinforces the importance of voluntary donation to maintain stocks and serve patients in need of transfusions. Between the 1st and 6th of June, in the first week of Red June, 770 donations were registered in the state. The goal is to reach 4 thousand scholarships by the end of the month. To monitor the campaign, Hemopi installed a "Donation Board" in the units. The dashboard is updated weekly with the number of bags collected. "We installed a Donation Scoreboard in each collection unit, which will be updated throughout the month with the number of bags collected. It is a way of involving donors in a healthy climate of mobilization and participation", stated the Hemopi Blood Cycle supervisor, nurse Melcíades Neto. Stocks depend on regular donations Teresina municipal guards donate blood in voluntary action due to low stock in Hemopi Hemopi According to Hemopi, Piauí records around 40 thousand donations per year, within the parameters of the World Health Organization (WHO). Still, the need is constant. In Teresina alone, between 120 and 150 donations are needed per day to maintain adequate stocks. A single bag of blood can benefit more than four people. After collection, the material is separated into red blood cells, plasma and platelets, used in different treatments. Currently, Hemopi has almost 500 thousand registered donors. The number includes everyone who has already contacted the institution, but does not mean that they are frequent donors. *Yngridy Vieira, intern under the supervision of Lucas Marreiros. VIDEOS: watch Rede Clube’s most viewed videos