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Health sector calls for blood donation

The health sector has called on medical staff and the community to respond to blood donation at the Le hoi Xuan hong (Red Spring) blood donation festival at the headquarter of the Ministry of Health in Hanoi on March 12.

Deputy Minister of Health Do Xuan Tuyen (standing second right) visits donors
at a blood donation event at the headquarters of the Ministry of Health in Hanoi. (Photo: VNA)

Jointly organised by the health sector’s Trade Union and the National Institute of Hematology and Blood Transfusion (NIHBT), the event aims to encourage health staff and the community to participate in voluntary blood donation and to ease the blood shortage during and after the Tet (Lunar New Year) holiday period.

In the context of the Covid-19 outbreak in Hanoi, the amount of blood collected has decreased sharply to around 60 units daily, 20 times lower than last month’s average of 1,200 units per day, according to the health ministry.

NIHBT Director Dr Bach Quoc Khanh said 70 blood donation events that were expected to collect 12,000 blood units were delayed since the outbreak of COVID-19.

In the current context of the COVID-19, the NIHBT will ensure the blood collection and supply with three criteria, including safety for blood donors, safety for patients and safety for medical staff, said Khanh, adding that donors will be given a mask and hand sanitiser before registering to donate blood.

The health sector said that blood collection currently has met 70 percent of blood demand for emergency aid and treatment at hospitals across the country./.
VNA/VNP

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