Students of People’s Police College give blood during a blood donation festival in Hanoi (Photo: VNA)Hanoi (VNA) – The National
Institute of Hematology and Blood Transfusion has called on the community,
especially those with type O blood, to donate blood in an effort to avoid a
shortage during the upcoming (Tet) holidays.
It is estimated that over the next three months,
the institute needs about 90,000 blood units, including more than 36,000 units
of type O blood, to meet the demand of first aid, treatment and supply for
hospitals, said the institute’s director Bach Quoc Khanh.
At the moment, about 75,000 people have
registered to donate blood, Khanh said. “We need more support from the
community to have 90,000 blood units to meet the country’s demand during the
year-end,” he said.
During the Tet holidays, the number of blood donors often
reduces while the need of blood for emergency treatment increases. The director
said a blood shortage is likely to occur if the health sector has not prepared
enough blood reserves. This would endanger patients.
Therefore, Khanh said, an increase in blood
donation is the only way to handle the shortage, especially of ,
during the end of the year and the Lunar New Year holidays.
According to Dr. Khanh, despite many blood
donation programmes, there still is a risk of shortage because the country’s
demand increases every year.
At present, the institute has provided daily
about 1,200 units of blood for emergency treatments. During the period between
December and January, the institute needs about 30,000-35,000 blood units. In
February, it needs between 20,000 and 25,000 units of blood for Tet.
People can visit the institute on Pham Van Bach street,
Cau Giay district, Hanoi to donate blood from 8am to 8pm every day.-VNA
Source: VietnamPlus
