Donating blood at the National Institute of Hematology and Blood Transfusion on February 20, 2024. VNA/VNS Photo

HÀ NỘI — The Xuân Hồng (red spring) festival – the biggest annual blood donation campaign after the Lunar New Year (Tet) celebration, kicked off in Hà Nội on February 20, expecting to collect at least 8,000 units of blood.  

Jointly organised by the National Institute of Hematology and Blood Transfusion (NIHBT) and the Hanoi Youth Association for Blood Donation, the event aims to solve the shortage of blood supply for treatment after Tết.

During the eight-day event, donors can visit one of the three venues in Hà Nội - the institute, the Trâu Quỳ Secondary school in Gia Lâm district, and AEON Mall Ha Dong in Hà Đông district.

Chairman of the Hanoi Youth Association for Blood Donation Trịnh Xuân Thủy said in the days leading to Tết, thousands of volunteers of the association still join communications activities calling for blood donation at public locations.

The association also created a strong communication campaign on social networks with the participation of 3,000 volunteers, he said, adding that such meaningful and humane activities offer opportunities for young people to join activities for social security.

Organised annually for 16 years, the blood donation event drew hundreds of thousands of blood donors, receiving over 110,000 blood units in Hà Nội alone. This activity has contributed to changing the public perception on voluntary blood donation, a honorable deed to usher in the New Year. – VNS