National Voluntary Blood Donation Day April 7: Promoting humanitarian acts and noble traditions

Attending were: Representatives of the Central Committee of the Vietnam Red Cross Society, leaders of the City People's Committee, the City Party Committee's Mass Mobilization Committee, departments, branches, organizations, the Steering Committee for Voluntary Blood Donation, the Red Cross Societies of 30 districts, towns, and collectives and individuals with achievements awarded in the "Humanitarian Tet" movement and a large number of people attending the blood donation program.

Speaking at the program, Chairman of the Hanoi Red Cross Society Dao Ngoc Trieu emphasized that before 2000, the entire city received less than 20,000 units of blood. Since 2000, every year, Hanoi has had hundreds of thousands of people participating in blood donation, thousands of typical examples have donated blood more than 10 times, 20 times and more. In 2023, Hanoi received more than 270,000 units of blood; of which, the rate of voluntary blood donation accounted for 99%, reaching over 2.6% of the population participating in blood donation. Blood quality is increasingly guaranteed.

“The close and timely involvement of authorities at all levels, the support and consensus of people from all walks of life and events such as the Red Journey, the Spring Festival, Voluntary Blood Donation Day, International Blood Donor Day... have created a positive effect, changing people's awareness in promoting humanitarian acts, the noble tradition of "helping each other" of the Vietnamese people. Today, blood donation is gradually becoming a humane and benevolent cultural feature of every agency, organization, business and every citizen of the capital,” Mr. Dao Ngoc Trieu shared.

Within the framework of the program, the Voluntary Blood Donation Festival organized by the Hanoi Voluntary Blood Donation Steering Committee and the Bac Tu Liem District Voluntary Blood Donation Steering Committee attracted a large number of local people. It is expected that the Festival will receive over 300 units of safe blood.

At the program, the Hanoi Red Cross Society evaluated and summarized the "Humanitarian Tet" movement in 2024 in the area. Deployed early under the direction of the Central Committee of the Vietnam Red Cross Society, the Hanoi Party Committee and People's Committee, the "Humanitarian Tet" movement was systematically implemented by the Society, attracting the participation of many people from all walks of life. The movement has left good impressions in the community, creating a fulcrum to bring joy and happiness to the poor, the disadvantaged and the less fortunate when Tet comes.

As a result, after more than 20 days of implementation, the Red Cross Associations at all levels in the city have supported and presented 127,538 gifts, worth over 72 billion VND; 57 Charity Tet Markets were organized widely in districts, towns and cities. The City Red Cross Association has successfully coordinated to organize 2 Central-level Charity Tet Market programs, supporting 2,200 disadvantaged people in the area... Along with that, the Associations at all levels also coordinated with units, businesses and philanthropists to organize activities to care for and support housing, livelihoods... for disadvantaged people during Tet.

On this occasion, in recognition of their achievements and contributions to the "Humanitarian Tet" movement 2024, 4 collectives and 3 individuals received Certificates of Merit from the Hanoi People's Committee; 21 collectives and 4 individuals received Certificates of Merit from the City Red Cross Society.

*Also on the morning of April 6, the Steering Committee for Voluntary Blood Donation of Can Tho City coordinated with units to organize the Launching Ceremony of Voluntary Blood Donation Day 2024.

Speaking at the ceremony, Vice Chairman of Can Tho City People's Committee Nguyen Thuc Hien, Head of the City's Voluntary Blood Donation Steering Committee, called on all levels, sectors, union members, youth, cadres, soldiers, volunteers and people in the area to actively participate in blood donation.

Mr. Nguyen Thuc Hien suggested that the Steering Committee for Voluntary Blood Donation at all levels strengthen leadership and direction of propaganda and mobilization work to raise awareness of the importance and significance of blood donation to save lives, focusing on cadres, civil servants, and public employees in Party and State agencies, organizations at all levels, and enterprises; promote the pioneering role of students, the Red Cross Society, and the armed forces, ensuring adequate blood supply for emergency and treatment purposes.

By March 31, 2024, the city had mobilized over 6,700 units of blood, reaching 18% of the 2024 target. Of which, on the occasions of Lunar New Year and the 2024 Spring Festival, the locality received about 6,000 units of blood.

According to the plan to respond to the National Voluntary Blood Donation Day in 2024, from March 15 to May 31, the entire city strives to organize and receive blood reaching at least 15% of the annual blood volume (equivalent to 5,550 units of blood) to meet the needs of emergency and treatment in the area.

On this occasion, Can Tho City launched the National Voluntary Blood Donation Day at 3 locations: FPT University Can Tho Branch, the City Department of Education and Training (Mac Dinh Chi Primary School) and the City Department of Transport. The blood donation points attracted more than 600 volunteers to register to participate. As a result, the Organizing Committee received 512 units of blood.

Within the framework of the launching ceremony, the Organizing Committee presented gifts to blood donors in difficulty; commended 8 groups with outstanding achievements in the 2024 Red Spring Festival campaign.