The Blood Donation with O2 project has begun
4.4.2008
By donating blood, everyone can help save lives. Voluntary donations in the Czech Republic, however, have been subject to a negative trend in recent years. Telefónica O2 Czech Republic has therefore decided to motivate its employees to donate blood of their own free will and to expand their activities in the field of corporate responsibility. The " Donate Blood with O2" project is launching on April 4, 2008. Employees from Prague headquarters, and gradually employees in other regional branches, will be able to participate in the program.
The pilot event took place this morning at O2 headquarters in the BB Center complex in Prague. In special mobile tents, workers from the transfusion department of the Central Military Hospital in Prague collected more than 30 liters of blood from over 60 participants. In addition to legal benefit entitlements, such as tax reductions and the right to a paid day off work, O2 employees also had the opportunity to learn detailed information about the entire process of blood donation. Furthermore, they were given vitamins to strengthen blood formation, a badge with a drop of blood, and a special O2 massage ball. And just like any standard blood collection process, there were the requisite snacks.
Unfortunately, in terms of voluntary blood donation, the Czech Republic lags behind the European average and the number of registered donors decreases every year. Over the past five years, the number has dropped to around 100,000 volunteers. "An inadequate supply of blood is a crucial problem that we wish to help solve actively thanks to our employees. We feel responsibility towards our society, and we are happy to help where it is needed," says David Šita, Executive Director for Public Affairs and Regulations, Telefónica O2.
The transfusion station appreciates Telefónica O2's activities. "We are happy to find firms that support their employees in matters as vital as voluntary blood donation. We value their determination to help where it is important and where their help will truly be effective. We appreciate the support we are getting from Telefónica O2 and we believe that the sizeable number of employees who participated in the project will become regular donors," says Lieutenant Colonel MUDr. Miloš Bohoněk, Head Physician of the Hematology, Biochemistry, and Blood Transfusion Ward of the Central Military Hospital in Prague. "Voluntary blood donation is an extremely humanitarian activity and when a person donates their blood without requiring a reward, it is an expression of deep generosity," he adds.
Contact for further information:
MARTIN ŽABKA
Press Spokesman
tel: +420 800 163 342 (800 1 MEDIA)
e-mail: public.relations.cz@o2.com
http://www.cz.o2.com
About Telefónica O2 Czech Republic
Telefónica O2 Czech Republic, a.s., is the first integrated operator in the Czech Republic, formed on 1 July 2006 by the merger of the leading fixed line operator, ČESKÝ TELECOM, a.s., and the strongest mobile operator, Eurotel Praha, spol. s r.o., into a single telecommunications organization. The organization is now operating more than seven million lines, both fixed and mobile, making it one of the world’s leading providers of fully converged services.
Telefónica O2 Czech Republic offers the most comprehensive portfolio of voice and data services in this country. Special attention is paid to the exploitation of the growth potential, particularly in the data and Internet sector. Telefónica O2 Czech Republic operates the largest fixed and mobile network including a 3rd generation network, CDMA (for data) and UMTS, enabling voice, data and video transmission. Telefónica O2 Czech Republic also runs the largest network of WiFi hotspots in the country.
About Telefónica O2 Europe
Telefónica O2 Europe comprises mobile network operators in the UK, Ireland and Slovakia, along with integrated fixed/mobile enterprises in Germany and the Czech Republic - all of which use ‘O2’ as their consumer brand. Telefónica O2 Europe also owns 50% of the Tesco Mobile and Tchibo Mobilfunk joint venture businesses in the UK and Germany respectively, and has 100% ownership of Be, the UK´s leading fixed broadband provider. Additionally, the group includes the Isle of Man fixed/mobile operator, Manx Telecom.
Telefónica O2 Europe, part of the Telefónica group, is headquartered in Slough, UK, and has more than 40 million mobile and fixed customers.
About Telefónica
Telefónica is one of the world’s largest telecommunications operators by market capitalisation. Its activities are centred mainly on the fixed and mobile telephony businesses, while its broadband business is the key growth driver underpinning both.
It operates in 24 countries and its customer base exceeds 228 million globally. Telefónica’s growth strategy is focused on the markets in which it has a strong foothold: Spain, Europe and Latin America.
