General

Only 1.5% of population voluntarily donate blood: conference


Hanoi: More than 1.5 million units of blood were donated nationwide in 2023, with 99% of which came from voluntary blood givers who account for 1.5% of the total population, heard a conference to review the voluntary blood donation work in Hanoi on January 12.

According to reports presented at the event, which was held by the National Steering Committee for Voluntary Blood Donation, the repeat blood donation ratio reached over 60%, while the proportion of blood units with a volume of 350ml or more reached 61%.

Minister of Health Dao Hong Lan, who is also head of the National Steering Committee for Voluntary Blood Donation, said several large-scale blood donation campaigns were organised effectively, attracting millions of donors.

The collection of blood has met the blood demand for medical emergencies and treatment, she said.

As many as 4,530 clubs of voluntary blood donation have been set up nationwide so far, attracting the participation of over 153,000 members.

Notably, activities to mobilise voluntar
y blood donation have been strengthened through information technology. Attention has also been paid to managing and taking care of voluntary blood donors.

Nearly 5,600 events campaining for blood donation have been organised, attracting over 1.4 million participants. Meanwhile, more than 13,500 staff, red cross members, and volunteers have been trained in mobilising resources for humanitarian blood donation activities.

The National Steering Committee for Voluntary Blood Donation took the occasion to present certificates of merit to 45 organisations in recognition of their outstanding achievements in voluntary blood donation movements in 2023.

At the event, the Ministry of Health, the Central Committee of the Vietnam Red Cross Society (VRCS) and the Vietnam association for organ and tissue donation signed an agreement on cooperation in mobilising organ and tissue donation in the 2024-2027 period./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency