Capt. Phạm Vương Minh of Thạch Liên Commune Police in Thạch Hà District, Hà Tĩnh Province, donates blood to help a patient in an emergency. — Photo baohatinh.vn

HÀ TĨNH — About 0.04 to 0.07 per cent of Vietnamese carry the rare Rh- blood type. It is imperative that people with this blood type be ready to help in case of emergency.

In the central province of Hà Tĩnh, a club called "Rare blood type Rh- Club" was founded to connect people of this blood type to hospitals.

Đỗ Thị G., 84, needed a large amount of blood when she experienced an emergency at Nghệ An General Hospital on July 6. The club connected G. with Captain Phạm Vương Minh, Deputy Chief of Thạch Liên Commune Police, who immediately went to the hospital to donate blood.

One year earlier in September 2021, the club connected Nguyễn Thị Thùy of Nghi Xuân Ward, Nghi Lộc District, central Nghệ An Province to a patient desperately needing Rh blood in an emergency.

These are just two examples of how timely help from the "Rare blood type Rh- Club" has saved lives.

"Our hospital acquires a heavy volume of blood to serve emergencies yearly," said Hoàng Quốc Anh, deputy director, Department of Hematology and Blood Transfusion at Hà Tĩnh General Hospital.

"However, the amount of blood of rare types we receive is minimal, and sometimes we don't even have it available. The lives of people with these blood types are at risk in operations or emergencies, when we don't have the amount of blood needed," Quốc Anh added.

With these challenges, the Hà Tĩnh Red Cross established "Rare blood type Rh- club", which gathered people of the blood type Rh- together.

"There are not many people with rare blood types in Hà Tĩnh, so it is necessary that the club be established," said Trần Thị Hải Việt, deputy director of the Hà Tĩnh Red Cross.

"The club will manage and distribute the human and blood resources needed in emergencies. Club members will have a great opportunity to network and update information faster," Việt added.

The Hà Tĩnh Steering Committee for Voluntary Blood Donation has asked local Red Cross offices in Hà Tĩnh Province to make a list of people carrying Rh- blood type in their area, and to inform these people about the club.

"The direction of the Hà Tĩnh Steering Committee for Voluntary Blood Donation has made the club operate more efficiently, with clear plans and regulations," said Quốc Anh. "The club will also be expanded and more people with rare blood types will join, making help easier and faster whenever a patient is in need of blood."

Along with the establishment of the Rh- rare blood club, the blood donation campaign in Hà Tĩnh is spreading and expanding further.

In 2022, the province has donated 6,941 units of blood, with 16 blood banks around Hà Tĩnh working tirelessly and efficiently, delivering blood to people in need at medical facilities across the province. — VNS