34,000 donors welcomed during Héma-Québec’s holiday season campaign

Montréal, January 13, 2004 - More than 34,000 people responded to the invitation issued by Héma-Québec and its partners in the community throughout Québec to give blood during its holiday season campaign, which ran from December 1, 2003, to January 11, 2004. The campaign was a total success, attaining 97% of its initial objective, namely 35,000 donors.

Under this year's theme of From Me to You, approximately 200 blood drives were organized by hundreds of volunteers from several organizations, throughout Québec.

" On behalf of the recipients, Héma-Québec would like to thank all those who went out of their way to give blood during this period so crucial for maintaining the reserve," said Dr Francine Décary, Chief Executive Officer. "At this time of the year when we wish others health, contributing to their health by donating a little blood and time demonstrates human solidarity," she added.

The collective blood reserve belongs to all Quebeckers. More than 1,000 donors are needed each day to meet the needs of hospital patients. Anyone who is in good health can give blood. An individual giving blood for the very first time must be between 18 and 60 years old. Those who give blood regularly can continue to do so until they are 70. Eligible donors can give blood every 56 days, or six times a year.

Since its creation in September 1998, Héma-Québec has welcomed 1,400,000 donors at 9,000 blood drives organized in collaboration with community partners throughout Québec. Last year alone, Héma-Québec delivered more than 400,000 blood products to hospitals in order to meet patients' needs.

Héma-Québec's mission is to efficiently provide adequate quantities of safe, optimal blood components, substitutes and human tissues to meet the needs of all Quebeckers; and to provide and develop expertise and services, along with specialized and innovative products, in the fields of transfusion medicine and human tissue transplantation.

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