Members of the Living Blood Bank Club participate in whole blood donation

The nucleus of the blood donation movement

Each time a centralized blood donation is organized, the target is about 300 - 400 units of blood, but the number of volunteers from the Living Blood Bank Club, University of Medicine and Pharmacy registering to donate is always higher. For example, in the first centralized blood donation in 2023 in June, the target was 350 units of blood, but the number of registrations was up to more than 650 volunteers. Or like the recent donation in November 2023, the number of registrations was also 100 volunteers higher than the number previously announced.

Every year, in addition to 2 concentrated blood donation sessions at the University of Medicine and Pharmacy, the Club also organizes about 10-14 satellite blood donation sessions at the Hue Regional Hematology and Blood Transfusion Center, Hue Central Hospital, with thousands of blood units donated. For example, from the beginning of 2023 to November 2023, the Club donated 13 sessions, with more than 2,500 units of whole blood and nearly 650 platelet donations. Previously, in 2022, the Club donated a total of 13 sessions, with more than 2,300 units of whole blood and nearly 650 platelet donations.

MSc. Specialist Doctor 2 Bui Minh Duc, Deputy Director of Hue Regional Hematology and Blood Transfusion Center, Hue Central Hospital, assessed that the Live Blood Bank Club is the pioneer and core force in the blood donation coordination activities of the center. Providing large amounts of blood to hospitals to treat patients. There are times when the amount of blood and blood types at the center are in shortage, such as the recent serious shortage of blood type O and blood type A. At that time, the center contacted the Club to request satellite donations. It is these satellite donations that help provide timely blood supply, quality, and the blood provided to patients is also better.

“There are times late at night when patients need platelets urgently, the Hue Regional Hematology and Blood Transfusion Center contacts the club and volunteers come to donate immediately. Many students who are doing internships at the hospital, when they see patients in urgent need of platelets, they also participate in donating at that moment, without any hesitation,” shared Master Bui Minh Duc.

Having just donated platelets, Nguyen Thanh Tai, a fourth-year student and member of the Living Blood Bank Club, smiled. With this one more time, he has donated 38 times, both whole blood and platelets. Since he was a child, he has had the desire to share his blood to save people. When he entered the University of Medicine and Pharmacy, this desire was further urged on him. Therefore, from his first year, Tai immediately joined the Club and became an active member. Tai's goal in the last two years is to donate 20-30 more times, so that before graduating, he can donate blood 60-70 times.

Continue to develop

Dr. Le Thi Khanh Huyen, Head of the Living Blood Bank Club, said that the club members are mainly students of the University of Medicine and Pharmacy, who have a lot of contact with the hospital environment. Therefore, they understand the importance of blood, and there is no substitute medicine. Moreover, knowing that if blood is not donated, it will die according to the biological cycle, they understand that donating blood is not as harmful as outsiders often say. The students have done clinical internships, so they understand the actual situation and the need for blood in emergency and treatment. The students also often have contact with many situations where patients need blood, which further stimulates the spirit of volunteering in each person. An objective condition is that the blood donation location is near the place of residence, near the school, near the hospital, so it will be convenient to travel without affecting other work.

To make the blood donation movement more widespread, the Club regularly organizes blood propaganda activities and extracurricular exchange programs. In addition to blood donation, it is also a playground connecting volunteers. This attracts those who are not eligible to donate blood to support the blood donation campaign. The Club also annually organizes the "Humanitarian Excellence" Day for students with outstanding achievements in blood donation and blood donation campaign; thereby, encouraging the spirit and promoting volunteerism.

According to Master, Doctor Bui Minh Duc, in the general activities on voluntary blood donation, the center always invites students of the University of Medicine and Pharmacy to share about blood donation. Thanks to that, the blood donation movement in the whole Hue University has also grown more and more, spreading to many students.

Associate Professor, Dr. Nguyen Khoa Hung, Vice Principal of the University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Director of the University of Medicine and Pharmacy Hospital, acknowledged that, in addition to studying and scientific research, clubs such as the Live Blood Bank and the Patient Guidance Club at the hospital are contributing to improving the efficiency and quality of the school and the hospital. Especially bringing better values ​​to patients. The word "live" in the Live Blood Bank has many noble meanings, that is, as long as there is blood to give, there is life to be saved. That is also a way to nurture medical ethics, a doctor who saves people comprehensively in the present and the future.

Article and photos: DUC QUANG