According to Tran Ngoc Que, Director of the National Blood Centre, under the National Institute of Haematology and Blood Transfusion, over its 11 editions, the Red Journey programme has received more than 810,000 blood units.
This year’s event was implemented from June 1 to July 30, with over 115,000 units of blood being collected.
Many localities collected more than 1,000 blood units, including Hanoi, and the provinces of Bac Giang, Bac Kan, Binh Dinh, Lao Cai, Kien Giang, Hai Duong, and Lai Chau.
More than 23,000 blood units collected at the programme were distributed to cities and provinces in the Southwest region, which are facing a serious shortage of blood to treat patients.
A total of another 2,500 blood units, which were collected at the Ho Chi Minh City Haematology and Blood Transfusion Hospital, and the Blood Transfusion Center of Cho Ray Hospital, were channelled to hospitals in the Central Highlands region.
Thanks to the sound coordination among functional units, the Red Journey programme has contributed to ensuring the collection, supply and distribution of blood and blood products, to serve emergency and treatment patients nationwide.
Associate Professor, Dr. Nguyen Ha Thanh, Director of the Central Institute of Haematology and Blood Transfusion, and Head of the Red Journey 2023’s organising committee stressed, that the programme has contributed to bringing life to hundreds of thousands of patients and helping the health sector better protect people's health.
In addition to raising public awareness about voluntary blood donation, Red Journey has aroused compatriotism, solidarity, and mutual among Vietnamese people, bringing them together to build a community of compassion and love.
The collection of voluntary blood donation at hospitals and blood transfusion centres is carried out more methodically and professionally. By hosting large-scale blood donation festivals, blood transfusion facilities have improved their organisational skills, mobilised the participation of more blood donors and received larger amounts of blood.
They have also gained valuable experience in improving the quality of blood donation service and the efficiency in the use of the collected blood
To further promote the achievements of the Red Journey, Associate Professor, Dr. Nguyen Ha Thanh proposed the National Steering Committee for Voluntary Blood Donation to integrate the implementation of the Red Journey with the summer blood donation events, in provinces and cities across the country.
He called on relevant units to enhance human resource training for their staff and accelerate the communication of voluntary blood donation.
The steering committees for voluntary blood donation in the provinces and cities need to be more proactive in mobilising all available resources in organising the Red Journey programme and promoting the application of information technology in the registration of blood donation, as well as in the management and care of blood donors.
Blood donation is not simply a medical term, but also a noble act showing the donors’ kindness and responsibility to society and the community. Every donated drop of blood can save a life. Voluntary blood donation is both a responsibility, an obligation, and an "order" from the heart of each person.
