>> Over 230 teachers in Luc Yen district voluntarily donate blood

This year, as the COVID-19 pandemic has turned complicated after the Lunar New Year holiday, like in other localities nationwide, hospitals in Yen Bai have faced a serious shortage of blood in their reserves.

In face of this, many establishments like the General Hospital of Yen Bai province, the Nghia Lo General Hospital, the educational sector of Luc Yen district and local credit institutions have organised many blood donation activities.

2020 marks 20 years since Vietnam chose April 7 as the "All people make voluntary blood donations day”. Notably, Party General Secretary and State President Nguyen Phu Trong recently called on all compatriots to donate blood for the sake of a healthy and humane society.

As a result, the blood donation movement this year has attracted a large number of cadres, Party members and others in the community, becoming a popular campaign across the province.

Nguyen Thu Huong, a midwife at the Nghia Lo General Hospital, said she donated blood with the hope of being able to help patients weather life-threatening times, especially amid the current blood shortage.

Deputy Director of the Nghia Lo General Hospital Pham Thanh Huong noted since the year’s beginning, the hospital has organised two blood donation events, each saw more than 20 staff members donate blood. Its blood stockpile now is basically sufficient for emergency aid.

Facing the great demand for blood at local hospitals, the General Hospital of Yen Bai province has prepared programmes to call for and receive blood donation right after the social distancing period ends.

The hospital will coordinate with the provincial Red Cross Society to organise blood donation programmes soon, director of the hospital Tran Lan Anh said.

In the blood donation campaign before and after the Lunar New Year holiday this year, 1,900 people in Yen Bai registered to donate blood, contributing 570 units. In 2019, the province organised 13 blood donation events with 5,500 participants, collecting over 2,900 units.

Ha Thi Ngoan, Chairwoman of the provincial Red Cross Society, said the steering board for blood donation communications of Yen Bai will hold more events in this humane work. In particular, it will come to agencies, organisations and localities to carry out such programmes.

Besides, the board will honour the exemplary collectives and individuals in blood donation and communication activities, while stepping up such models as the live blood bank, blood donor clubs and youth blood donor teams, she added.