Turkey conducts blood donation drives in Samsun and Istanbul to offset summer shortage

In Samsun, Medicana International Samsun Hospital partnered with the Turkish Red Crescent’s North Black Sea Regional Blood Center to hold a campaign where hospital staff, patients’ relatives and visitors donated blood and stem cells. Dr. Murat Küsdül emphasized that summer sees a sharp decline in donations, noting that “blood is a vital fluid that cannot be replaced” and urging healthy people aged 18‑65 to view donation as a civic duty.

In Istanbul’s Kartal district, the Atalar neighbourhood muhtar collaborated with the Turkish Red Crescent to run a donation event beside Atalar Central Mosque, offering incentives such as meals, cash vouchers, clothing vouchers and a half‑gold award for reaching targets. The goal was 100 units of blood; organisers highlighted the slogan “One blood, three lives”. Participants, including a Syrian donor, said they gave blood not for rewards but to give hope to patients.