Blood donations taken for Roma holocaust day

A group of Roma from villages in the eastern Slovak area of Spiš joined together for a blood donor drive at the hospital in Levoča (Prešov region) on Tuesday as part of a blood donation event called 'Roma Drop of Blood ' that Government Proxy for the Roma Communities Peter Pollák organised to mark Roma Holocaust Memorial Day (August 2). This was also the first time Pollák had donated blood. "I didn't even know that I was eligible to donate blood after having hepatitis as a child. I was told by a doctor today, though, that if it was hepatitis A, I can donate blood after some time elapses. I'm happy to become a blood donor and to be an example for other Roma", said Pollák. Another five Roma showed up to donate blood at Levoča hospital, two of which had already sat on the donor chairs before. "I was talked into it by my wife, who has donated blood before, so I decided to help other people, too. I'm a little tense, but the fear is manageable", said František Pišta of Spišský Hrhov. This year's first blood donation drive marking Roma Holocaust Memorial Day took place last month in Prešov, where some 30 young people, primarily Roma, donated blood.