RSU Health Day attracts many first-time donors and large number of student research groups
Photo: Courtesy of RSU
On Friday, 5 December, the Rīga Stradiņš University (RSU) Main Building was bustling with activity, as representatives of different student research groups gathered in the lobby to conduct various health checks. Meanwhile, in the rehearsal room of the Great Hall, people could donate blood at a blood drive organised by the State Blood Donor Centre. RSU Health Day in numbers: 13 student research groups with nearly 60 participants, four hours of various activities, and 46 donors who donated 18.4 litres of blood, which could potentially save 138 lives.
Half of the donors, 23 people, gave blood for the first time.
‘We are particularly proud of the first-time donors, as they play a crucial role in ensuring the sustainability of the donor movement,’
emphasised representatives of the State Blood Donor Centre.
It wasn’t only RSU employees who donated blood, but also local and international students. ‘The process of donating blood is not particularly pleasant, but the people who need blood to save their lives feel far worse than we do. That is why I plan to continue donating,’ says Zigmārs Litavnieks, a first-year student at the RSU Faculty of Medicine, who donated blood for the first time.
‘This was my first time donating blood. I was nervous, but the medical staff were very supportive. I will certainly donate again, because this is a way in which I can help people,’
shares Samanta Jurkāne, a second-year student of the RSU Faculty of Pharmacy.
For third-year medical student Nuna Matala from Spain, this was also her first time donating blood: ‘People with various illnesses require blood, and I can help by donating.’
In addition to donating blood, visitors could undergo simple health checks in the RSU lobby: measure blood pressure, blood sugar, and stress levels, check vision, have an electrocardiogram, and learn about herbal medicine, cancer screening, healthy eating, and other topics. Meanwhile, staff from the RSU Career Guidance and Wellbeing Centre offered an introduction to working with associative cards and helped participants explore answers to questions important to them.
RSU Health Day was organised by the RSU Student Union (Studējošo pašpārvalde, SP) and the RSU Public Relations Unit.
‘The student research group activities are a good way for young people to learn more about their health, as receiving information from their peers may reach them more effectively. For research group members, RSU Health Day is also a great opportunity to reinforce the knowledge they have gained during their studies and to practise communicating with visitors,’
says Matīss Pumpurs, RSU SP Head of Science.
We invite everyone who wished to donate blood but was unable to do so due to time constraints or other reasons to visit the State Blood Donor Centre at 9 Sēlpils iela, Riga.
About RSU Health Day
RSU Health Day is traditionally held in the autumn and dates back to 2016. The event aims to encourage staff and students to take care of their health and to participate in blood donation.
