“We count on the Portuguese, particularly the young ones, whom we ask to make their first blood donation this Christmas. Donated blood helps save lives and this is the best gift you can offer,” says Alberto Mota, president of FEPODABES.

Winter, characterized by the holiday season but also by the flu outbreaks, when many Portuguese go on vacation, are the times when reductions in blood donations are most felt.

“Although there are no supply disruptions, FEPODABES calls for an increase in donations at this time so that it is possible to continue to safeguard the blood reserves that result from the daily IPST [Portuguese Institute of Blood and Transplantation] and the hospitals that have a harvest”, explains Alberto Mota.

In Lisbon, places where people aged 18-65 and over 50kg can give blood include the Lisbon Blood and Transplantation Centre, IPST central services, Santa Maria Hospital (CHLN), de São José (CHLC), D. Estefânia Hospital (CHLC) and the IPO Lisbon.