Honoring 100 outstanding blood donors nationwide in 2023

On July 27, the National Steering Committee for Voluntary Blood Donation in coordination with the Central Committee of the Vietnam Red Cross Society and the National Institute of Hematology and Blood Transfusion held a press conference to inform about the program to honor 100 outstanding blood donors nationwide in 2023.

The organizing committee informs about the event to honor 100 outstanding blood donors nationwide.

The message of this year's honor program, following the theme of the World Health Organization's World Blood Donor Day, is "Give blood, give plasma. Share life, share often." This message is to call on people with good health to donate blood and blood components regularly, including plasma. Along with blood cells (red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets), plasma is also an important blood component, containing many substances that are essential for the body's development and metabolism.

Associate Professor, Dr. Nguyen Ha Thanh, Director of the National Institute of Hematology and Blood Transfusion, said: “In many countries around the world , plasma donation is relatively common. In Vietnam, plasma donation has not been widely implemented like platelet donation, but it is a trend that the Hematology and Blood Transfusion industry is aiming for. Unlike whole blood donation, platelet donation requires higher standards in terms of weight, platelet count and longer donation time, but in return, it can be repeated after only 2-3 weeks. Over many years, the awareness of all classes of people nationwide about blood donation and blood component donation has fundamentally changed.”

Among the 100 delegates honored this year, there are 20 female delegates, 16 delegates from the education sector, 8 delegates are medical staff, 7 delegates from the armed forces and 3 delegates from ethnic minorities. The oldest delegate is 61 years old, the youngest delegate is 22 years old. There are 10 delegates who have donated blood from 19 to 29 times, 60 delegates who have donated blood from 30 to 49 times, 20 delegates who have donated blood from 50 to 69 times, 08 delegates who have donated from 70 to 99 times, 02 delegates who have donated 100 times or more. The total number of blood and platelet donations this year from 100 delegates is nearly 4,500 units.

Ms. Bui Thi Hoa, President of the Vietnam Red Cross Society, Deputy Head of the National Steering Committee for Voluntary Blood Donation, affirmed: “Voluntary blood donation is not only to save the lives of patients, but we also sow the seeds of compassion, sharing, love in life, and beautify the tradition of “Mutual love, mutual affection, and loving others as we love ourselves” of our nation. I hope that all levels and sectors will continue to pay attention and create conditions for voluntary blood donation in the locality to continue to develop sustainably. I call on those who are healthy enough to participate in voluntary blood donation, donate blood regularly, and donate blood again to maintain a stable source of blood donors to respond to emergency and patient treatment because it is a sense of community, social responsibility, and spreads the humanity and humanity of the Vietnamese people”.

100 outstanding blood donors nationwide to be honored in 2023

Present at the press conference, many patients expressed their emotions when meeting the 100 outstanding blood donors who were honored. Ms. Nguyen Thi Tuyen (Nam Dinh), who has been treated at the National Institute of Hematology and Blood Transfusion since 2005, expressed her gratitude for the drops of blood that have helped her live for nearly 20 years. “Although I have heart failure, the blood donors saved me so I can still live normally. About 10 years ago, I had four blood transfusions a year, four bags of blood each time. In the past 10 years, I have had blood transfusions every two months, many bags of 350ml. Before, I had to wait two days to receive a transfusion, but now I can receive “selective” blood transfusions in the morning and afternoon (must have compatibility index with patients with congenital hemolytic anemia),” Ms. Tuyen shared.

Every summer, before, you often waited eagerly for blood, and your happiness was only hearing the rustling sound to know that the nurse was coming to give you blood, bringing more life to you.

Ms. Chu Thi Mup, mother of 5-year-old Hieu Lam (from Bac Giang) also had tears in her eyes: "She was hospitalized when she was 2 years old, it's been 3 years now. I can't remember how many bags of blood she received. I thank all of you who donated blood so she could live."

For normal people, happiness is having a full meal, meeting the person you are looking forward to... but for people with blood diseases, happiness is hearing the clattering of the medical equipment trolleys of the staff. That means blood and life are getting closer. Surely, with the joint efforts of doctors, medical staff, blood donors will continue to accompany the mother and child in the fight against the disease.

This year's series of honoring activities will take place over three days in Hanoi and Phu Tho, including: Exchange and gift giving to patients in difficult circumstances who need blood transfusions; Gala "Reunion of the Three Regions", Journey "Returning to the Ancestral Land" to offer incense and report to the Hung Kings; Ceremony to report to Uncle Ho; offering incense at the Bac Son Martyrs' Monument; Ceremony to honor 100 outstanding blood donors nationwide in 2023. Notably, on the afternoon of July 29, at the Government Office, the Prime Minister will meet and commend outstanding blood donors; demonstrating the special attention of the Party, State and Government leaders to the voluntary blood donation movement in general and voluntary blood donors in particular.

QUYNH HOA

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