CHRODA 2022-Saving Lives Project

The SAVING LIVES project is a part of HEED Finland´s Chronic Disease Awareness project, funded by Moniheli. The project addressed the cultural barriers and concerns preventing immigrants from donating blood. Guidance was provided on a series of issues related to haemoglobin and the blood donation process in Finland and why immigrants need to become regular blood donors. HEED Finland collaborated with the Finnish Red Cross, Laurea UAS, and grassroots associations to achieve the project’s objectives. A series of events were held around the metropolitan area and online. Free Hemoglobin measurement was done during face-to-face events to encourage immigrants with a good level of haemoglobin to consider donating blood. There were participants during the events with higher than normal haemoglobin values and were encouraged to consider blood donation as a treatment for lowering haemoglobin. Participants also gained knowledge of the causes and health implications of high and low haemoglobin. Participants from all events gave excellent feedback and requested more of such events in the future.