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Peru’s Health Ministry (Ministerio de Salud -MINSA) informed that the Andean nation has the lowest voluntarily blood donation rates in all of Latin America.

MINSA reports that while other countries in the region registered blood donation rates as high as 30 percent, Peru comes in dead last with a dismal 5 percent.

Jose Fuentes Rivera the coordinator of MINSA’s national blood bank says that Peru’s low donation rates are lower than neighboring countries Chile, Bolivia, and Ecuador.

Nonetheless, the region as a whole has registered poor voluntary rates. Chile, Bolivia, and Ecuador do not supply their blood supplies with 100% volunteer based collections, as the World Health Organization (WHO) recommends.

Low blood supply rates correlate to higher mortality rates. According to MINSA, more than 39% of maternal deaths (hemorrhages) were caused by the lack of the precious substance.

Health authorities have an uphill battle in trying to change the mentalities of the general Peruvian public. Though voluntary blood donation figures from other countries have gone up slightly during the past few years, Peru has experienced a downward trend during the same time span.

To begin its movement in changing misperceptions and beliefs about donating blood, MINSA has declared May 23 as the “National Blood Donor Day.” Activities that aim to glorify blood donors as modern day heroes are planned to be held around Peru’s hospitals, clinics, and health centers.