Héma-Québec / Number of people intending to give blood up sharply

MONTREAL, QUEBEC, January 12, 1999 - More people than ever intend to give blood in the next twelve months according to a survey conducted by BAROMETRE for HEMA-QUEBEC on January 6. Twenty-one percent of respondents indicated that they were likely or very likely to give blood in the next twelve months, compared with 16 percent last October. Most people give blood for humanitarian reasons and out of solidarity.

Twenty-one percent of respondents indicated they are more likely to give blood since HEMA-QUEBEC came into being, compared with 14 percent in October.

"Media coverage at the start-up of HEMA-QUEBEC's operations, as well as the advertising campaign and infomercial, definitely helped to promote blood donation," explained Dr. Francine Decary, executive director of HEMA-QUEBEC, at a press conference held to report on the organization's first three months of operation.

According to the survey, 64 percent of respondents have read, seen or heard HEMA-QUEBEC advertising and 78 percent were reached by television in December.

One thousand and one people aged 18 or over were surveyed by telephone on January 6, 1999. The margin of error is 3.16, 19 times out of 20.

As part of its mission, HEMA-QUEBEC provides Quebeckers with adequate quantities of superior quality and safe blood products to meet the needs of hospitals in all regions of the province and to provide recognized expertise and specialized services in immuno- hematology.

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