The «outstretched arm» of Sol Palmeras
As has become a tradition, the Sol Palmeras Hotel, in this famous seaside resort, extended its arm in the National Day of the Voluntary Blood Donor, a stage of great demonstration of altruism, which takes place every year in Cuba from June 6th to 14th.
Among the first ones was Antonio Herranz Ortiz, deputy general manager, one of those who accumulated the highest number of donations, says Arnaldo Díaz Hiedra, general secretary of the trade union bureau of the facility, the first mixed hotel in Cuba, inaugurated by the historic leader of the Revolution, Fidel Castro Ruz.
In one of the two beds in the room, Dayana Martín, from the quality area, is among the regulars when they announce the voluntary donation days, a moment that is also not missed by the doorman Reynier Cárdenas, who despite starting his work shift at three in the afternoon, was already there at 7:30 a.m. to contribute with blood donations.
The Clinical Bioanalysis graduates Leydi Alcántara Quintana and Annerys Díaz Gobel, Dr. José Roberto Chio Pérez is in charge of the blood bank team of the municipality of Cárdenas, which turns into reality the gesture of solidarity of the directors and employees of the facilities of the main sun and beach destination of the country.
With her special way of treating donors, Leydi Alcántara Quintana, advises to drink plenty of liquids, «because that way the blood volume recovers. The maturity of the cells is reached a little slower, in three months, the time that must elapse between one extraction and another», she explains.
For her partner Annerys, every contribution counts. That is why they are very grateful for the contribution of tourism, with special mention to hotels like the Royalton Hicacos and Meliá Las Américas, with figures of 60, 70 or 80 donations a day.
«We feel very proud to be able to give such a precious part of the human being as is his blood,» said Diaz Hiedra.
«It is an important contribution to the health system. Here we have an average of 25 and 30 donations in each call and we usually end the year with 100».
The veteran trade union leader referred to the initiatives agreed upon at Sol Palmeras to congratulate the donors, who are among the most outstanding of the facility and will receive the benefits of the material stimulation system instituted.
Managed by the Cubanacán and Meliá chains, 33-year-old Sol Palmeras continues to set the pace among the more than 50 hotels in Varadero, the seaside resort that boasts of having it located in its beautiful geography.
Every June 14th, the World Health Organization and its member countries celebrate World Blood Donor Day.
More than half a century ago a national day was celebrated in the country, in commemoration of the donation made by Fidel Castro Ruz in the Provincial Bank of Havana, to help the people of Peru who had suffered a devastating earthquake.
This day is held to thank unpaid voluntary donors for a life-saving gift, as well as to raise awareness of the need for regular donations for the sake of timely and affordable access to safe, high-quality blood and blood products.
Written by Eva Luna Acosta Armiñán.
