Earlier, more than 100 young people in Hanoi participated in disseminating information about the voluntary blood donation campaign in many streets in the capital city.

Director of the National Institute of Hematology and Blood Transfusion (NIHBT) Dr Nguyen Minh Tri said that around 40,000 people donate blood in Hanoi every year. In 2008, Vietnam collected more than 564,000 units.

*** In response to the Day, more than 100 students from Vinh University in the central province of Nghe An signed up to donate blood. The provincial steering committee for voluntary blood donation has opened its consulting office at Vinh University.

The province said it will need more than 7,000 units of blood this year. Last year, more than 4,000 units were collected and provided to the provincial Polyclinic Hospital.

*** The Centre for Hematology and Blood Transfusion in the northern port city of Hai Phong and the Viettronic College also organised a ceremony to respond to the event with the participation of more than 100 students.

The centre said it has co-ordinated with relevant agencies and schools to disseminate information on blood donation and has collected nearly 1,700 units of blood in February and March alone. The city aims to mobilize around 9,000 units this year.

*** Meanwhile, more than 600 youth union members, students, and members of the armed forces in the northern province of Son La participated in this year’s Voluntary Blood Donation Day. The province plans to launch campaigns for blood donation and aims to collect 400-600 units in 2009.