Tenerife Town Boosts Blood Donations Through Community-Led 'Nectar of Life' Campaign
The town of Tejina in Tenerife is boosting blood donations by integrating its "Nectar of Life" campaign into local festivities, fostering friendly neighborhood competition to maintain stable hospital reserves.
The town of Tejina in Tenerife has found a successful way to boost blood donations by tapping into the community's strong sense of local identity. The Canary Islands Health Service (SCS) has launched the latest round of its "Nectar of Life" initiative, a campaign that goes beyond simple medical collection by becoming a part of local culture.
The project’s success lies in turning a vital medical act into a community-building event. By timing the campaign with the San Bartolomé festivities and the historic "Fiesta de los Corazones," organizers have created a friendly competition between the residents of the Arriba, Abajo, and El Pico streets. Now in its thirteenth year, this format turns blood donation into a shared goal, helping keep hospital reserves at healthy levels through active neighborhood participation.
To make donating easy for residents and visitors, a mobile unit has been set up in Plaza Manuel Hernández. It will be open Monday through Friday, with two daily sessions: 10:15 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and 5:15 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
More than just reaching donation targets, the campaign aims to teach the importance of donating regularly. Health authorities note that this model—one of the most unique in the Canary Islands—is successful because it helps people build a lasting habit of giving blood, which is essential for keeping the regional health system stable and prepared for any emergency.