Assoc Prof Lê Đình Thanh, director of HCM City’s Thống Nhất Hospital, donates blood during a drive the hospital organised on Thursday. VNS Photo Thu Hằng

HCM CITY — More than 200 doctors, nurses and staff at Thống Nhất Hospital in HCM City donated blood on Thursday.

The hospital’s blood donation drive was aimed at easing a shortage of blood and blood components due to a dramatic decrease in donors during the COVID-19 pandemic, Assoc Prof Lê Đình Thanh, its director, said.

The participation of medical workers would encourage the community to embrace the humanitarian call to donate blood, he said.

It was also a way for medical workers to celebrate Vietnamese Doctors’ Day, February 27, he said.

Dr Hồ Hữu Đức, deputy director of the field hospital for COVID-19 treatment in Tân Bình District, said it was the third time he had donated blood to the hospital.

“As a medical worker, I acknowledge that donations are essential to ensure blood is available for patients in need.

“The COVID-19 pandemic has led to a reduction in blood donations, making it urgent for more people to give blood to save lives.” — VNS

More than 200 physicians, nurses and staff at Thống Nhất Hospital donated blood on Thursday. VNS Photo Thu Hằng