Posted by Haagen P. Cumlet

The four Rotary clubs in the city of Recife, capital of the northeastern Brazilian state Pernambuco, are looking for matching grant partners abroad for the procurement of a bloodmobile and the necessary thermal boxes. The mobile blood bank will be administered by the Pernambuco State's blood service (Hemope Foundation), and is projected to increase the collection of donor blood within the state by at least 10 per cent, according to the prepared application to The Rotary Foundation (TRF). The total cost of the project is estimated at 77,132 US Dollars, out of which one or more international partners will be requested to raise 21,376 US Dollars.

Locally, the project is sponsored by the Rotary clubs Recife Largo da Paz; Recife Boa Viagem; Recife Casa Amarela and Recife Derby.

 

The Pernambuco State is located in Rotary district 4500.

 

A bloodmobile is a blood donation vehicle  equipped with everything necessary for blood donation procedures. 

 

A committee of Rotarians from all the project partner clubs will be appointed with the task of:  

  • overseeing the project
  • carrying out follow-up activities of the campaign Future Donors
  • providing documentation and information when requested
  • ensuring the schedule is maintained and providing reports and accounts. 

 

The budget

 

1 vehicle (van) for blood collection: 63,158 US Dollars; 4 thermo boxes: 13,934 US Dollars.

 

The four host clubs will have to raise 25,711.58 US Dollars, with the possibility of another 2,000.00 US Dollars from the district in District Designated Funds (DDF).

 

The cost for the international partner(s) will be 16,376.14 US Dollars with the possibility of another 5,000 US Dollars from DDF.

 

The projected support from The Rotation Foundation is 28,043.86 US Dollars.

 

 

Urgent need for blood supply

 

The state of Pernambuco has an estimated population of 8.8 million people; the capital Recife has 1.56 million inhabitants and the metropolitan region about 3.5 million inhabitants. The greater Recife area has 96 hospitals.

 

- The need for  donor blood is enormous; the number of accidents is extremely high and many people go to hospitals and are frequently in need of receiving blood donations, the clubs stipulate in their prepared TRF application.

 

The project has been named Future Donors. The sponsoring Rotary clubs hope, with the project, to raise awareness especially among young people for the need for voluntary blood donation.

 

The state's blood service, Hemope Foundation, has already "carried out work with some communities and schools in order to raise awareness regarding the extreme need for each apt citizen to be a voluntary blood donor." 

 

The general situation, however "leaves much to be desired and there is a need to widen this work to other regions thus achieving more effective actions in a greater number of communities."

 

Since 1980-81, the Rotary Clubs in the metropolitan area of Recife have given support to the Hemope Foundation in campaigns and activities related to the collection and donation of blood.

 

The bloodmobile is, for now, planned to be in use for at least five years by the Homage Foundation.

 

 

Recifefirst with a 3-H project in Latin America

 

The first Health, Hunger and Humanity project (3-H) to be carried out in South America was a blood conservation project - organized by Rotary Club Recife - for the Hemope Foundation at a cost of 42,000 US Dollars.

 

The Hemope Foundation has over the years been visited by three Rotary International Presidents, James L. Bomar Jr. 1979-80 M.A.T. Caparas (1986-87) and Paulo V.C. Costa (1990-91).

 

Footnotes:

 

To see the full project, click hereor look under DOWNLOADS.

 

The Rotary Foundation's Matching Grants support international humanitarian service projects that benefit a community in need. Rotary clubs or districts from two countries must work collaboratively to implement a project. Sponsors may request US $5,000-$150,000 from The Rotary Foundation. TRF matches $0.50 for every $1 of a cash contribution and $1 for every $1 from the District Designated Fund (DDF).

 

 

Contacts:  

 

Angela Cristina de Noroes Lins Cavalcanti
Rotary Club Recife Largo da Paz
President 2008-09
acnlc@tjpe.jus.br

 

Helena Lezan Bittencourt  
Rotary Club Recife Boa Viagem
President 2008-09
helenabit@terra.com.br

 

Bento José Bezerra Neto  
Rotary Club Recife Casa Amarel
President 2007-08
bentobezerra@terra.com.br

 

Isabella Jarocki  
Rotary Club Recife Derby
Rotary Foundation Director

Isabella@clubsteffano.com.br