Hanoi blood donation campaign kicks off to aid medical emergencies

THE HANOI TIMES — The Hanoi health sector is calling for blood donation  to address critical shortages for emergency needs and patient treatment, said Dr. Tran Ngoc Que, Director of the National Blood Center at the National Institute of Hematology and Blood Transfusion (NIHBT).

"The shortage is especially severe in July and August when the NIHBT needs to supply at least 90,000 units of blood to 180 hospitals in the north," Que told The Hanoi Times.

Despite efforts to fill the deficit, the blood reserve is still short by 30,000 units. In particular, type O blood, the most common, drops to an alarming level, requiring up to 15,000 units.

"Emergency and treatment cannot be interrupted. I hope that everyone who is healthy enough will donate blood regularly, especially this summer. Every drop of blood given saves a life,” said the doctor.

"In the summer, people go on vacation, students return to their hometowns, and community activities cease. However, hospitalization continues. Many children need monthly blood transfusions. If they don't receive enough, they'll become exhausted, develop enlarged hearts, experience organ failure, or even die," he said.

The target for the “Grateful Drops 2025” blood donation campaign is to collect at least 4,000 units of blood between July 18 and 27, Que said.

The campaign's theme, “One Heart – One Heroic Flame,” aims to spread the spirit of compassion and gratitude to the generations who sacrificed for the nation’s independence, as War Invalids and Martyrs' Day is observed on July 27.

The campaign have been taking place at the NIHBT headquarters from 7:00 to 16:30 daily between July 12 and 27, at AEON Mall Ha Dong on July 19, and at AEON Mall Long Bien on July 20. The latter two locations will operate from 9:00 to 16:00.

Launched in 2011, "Grateful Drops" encourages young people to participate in voluntary blood donation and fosters a culture of community care while honoring war heroes and martyrs.

Since its inception in Hanoi, “Grateful Drops” has grown into the country’s largest blood donation program, leading in both the volume of donations and public participation. Over the past decade, tens of thousands of people, particularly young people, students, civil servants, and members of the armed forces, have joined the campaign.

"Blood is a special medical resource that cannot be produced industrially or stored for long periods. Donation must be regular and continuous," Que told The Hanoi Times.

The director added that Viet Duc University Hospital in Hanoi has also called on people with blood type O to donate blood urgently since early July. Patients with multiple severe injuries, such as a broken femur or forearm bone, or a complex maxillofacial injury, are in need of blood.

Small deed, big meaning

Many people have been showing kindness and social responsibility in their own way. They believe that giving is very simple and sometimes there is no need to seek recognition. “As long as there is a spirit of willingness to give, without seeking benefits, everyone can do useful things,” Le Thi Van, a 36-year-old salesperson in Hanoi, shared with The Hanoi Times.

“Good deeds don't require special conditions; they just require a heart ready to give. Blood donation is a way of showing love and supporting patients undergoing difficult treatments, as each unit of blood donated brings hope and life to someone in need,” said Van, who has participated in five blood donation events and expects to join more meaningful activities in the future.

One unit of safe blood can save up to three lives, and the NIHBT is working to open more blood donation sites nationwide. “The move focuses on patients requiring lifelong transfusion support so that all patients in need can receive timely treatment. It also emphasizes the role that each person can play by giving the valuable gift of blood or plasma," said Dr. Tran Ngoc Que.

At present, more donations can be made at blood donation points in Hanoi at No.18 Quan Su Street, No.132 Quan Nhan Street, No.10 of Alley 122 on Lang Road, and Agricultural General Hospital at Km13+500 National Highway 1A in Ngoc Hoi Commune.