The Red Sunday blood donation drive will be held on January 12 for the 6th time in 10 provinces and cities across the country, expected to attract 3,000 participants and collect some 1,000 units of blood.
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Photo for illustration (Source: VnExpress) |
The information was announced during a press conference held on January 7 by the organizers of the event, including the National Committee on Traffic Safety, the National Institute of Haematology and Blood Transfusion (NIHBT), the Hanoi Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union, and the University of Commerce.
Started in 2009, the Red Sunday blood drives have increasingly attracted donors, with only hundreds of units of blood collected in 2009, but up to 1,400 units of blood in 2013.
Over the past 5 years, the drive has been supported by leaders of many ministries and sectors, famous people, religious dignitaries, social activists, singers and beauties. Besides, many enterprises have provided capital and facilities for the events. Directly, it has received active response from thousands of young people and students from universities, colleges and people, collecting over 4,000 units of blood.
According to Prof. Dr. Nguyen Anh Tri, NIHBT President, during the lunar New Year, the country needs at least 45,000 units of blood to treat patients; however, the current amount of blood in storage only satisfies 40% of the demand; therefore, a shortage of blood during Tet will cause difficulties for medical treatment and preventive activities. “Thus, the Red Sunday blood drive becomes a very important and practical activity to help patients,” he said./.