People donate blood in HCM City at the Red Cross’ Lễ Hội Xuân Hồng (Red Spring) blood donation campaign that kicked off last Saturday. VNS Photo Thu Hằng

HCM CITY — The Việt Nam Red Cross Society’s HCM City chapter on January 23 began the Lễ Hội Xuân Hồng (Red Spring) blood donation campaign as part of its annual efforts to mitigate the blood shortage during the Tết (Lunar New Year) holiday.

The event, to run until March 9, is expected to collect 44,000 bags of blood for the city’s Blood Bank, each containing 250ml, 350ml, or 450ml.

Nguyễn Trọng Nghĩa, a student at FPT University who gave blood, said: “There is usually a shortage of blood supply for medical emergencies during the Tết holiday and the COVID-19 pandemic will worsen the shortage. It is important to encourage the public to donate blood to mitigate the shortage.”

The annual event helps ensure there is adequate blood supply since donation is disrupted during the Tết holiday, Trần Trường Sơn, chairman of the HCM City chapter, said.

Despite the pandemic, last year more than 215,600 people donated more than 279,500 units, exceeding the target, he said.

The Red Cross hopes to collect 220,000 bags of blood this year, with 3 per cent of the city’s population expected to donate. —VNS