HÀ NỘI — Many people from volunteer groups, enterprises and organisations have visited the National Institute of Hematology and Blood Transfusion to donate blood to help handle the shortage of blood, especially blood type O, in the past week.  

The institute said that it received an average of 300 donors each day. More than 900 blood units have been collected at the institute, of which 65 per cent are blood type O, during the week from August 17 to 25.

The institute is implementing many efforts to encourage donors, especially people with blood type O, to donate blood as soon as possible. It sent letters or SMS to donors with blood type O who meet blood donation requirements and provided updates on the nearest blood donation sites for donors in the city.  In addition to fixed blood donation sites, the institute also established many mobile blood donation sites in Hà Nội and neighbouring areas and promoted communication programmes to encourage people to donate blood.  

The Hà Nội Voluntary Blood Donation Association received 140 blood units with type O among 159 collected blood units at its site in Hà Nội.  A blood donation site at the Trường Hải - Giải Phóng Automobile Showroom in Thanh Trì District also received a high rate of blood type O donors, showing positive signs in mobilising blood donors during emergencies.

A blood donation festival received nearly 400 blood units from group members.

On August 18, the institute announced that there was a serious shortage of blood type O as the amount of blood type O in reserves was not enough to meet the emergency and treatment demands of hospitals in the city and northern provinces. — VNS