5% of the Icelandic nation – about 9,000 people – donate blood on a regular basis reports the Icelandic National Broadcasting Service. The Icelandic Blood Bank needs at least 70 donors a day to be able to meet demand and be prepared for serious accidents, emergencies and natural disasters. With an aging population the need for blood increases.
Sveinn Gudmundsson, a physician and the director of the Blood Bank, told RÚV that the government should ensure that promotional activities for the Blood Bank are carried out. He said that the health authorities set no funds aside to promote blood donations – a matter that is food for thought for all. He said is is not possible to all of the sudden call Europe and ask for blood. Because of the government’s lack of initiative the Blood Bank is now teaming up with Og Vodafone, a Baugur controlled telco, to promote its need for more donors.
The Blood Bank and Og Vodafone announced a promotion campaign yesterday where they call out for heroes. Blood donors are heroes in the eyes of the Blood Bank. A PR person for Og Vodafone said that the companies, Og Vodafone and the Blood Bank, had much in common, for example, the color red.
