According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), Vietnam needs nearly 2 million units of blood for emergency and treatment every year. In fact, approximately 700,000 units are provided to hospitals of which 59 percent come from voluntary blood donations to meet only 30 percent of the health sector’s needs. Consequently, many hospitals have fallen short of blood and patients often have to wait 5-10 days to get a blood transfusion.

In fact, there have been many serious emergencies, even cases of death since there is not enough blood to provide for transfusions in time.

To date, scientists from many countries around the world including Vietnam have still failed to find an artificial substitute for human blood. Therefore, people are required to donate blood.

In 2009, the Prime Minister decided to encourage the public to donate blood voluntarily. As a result, the campaign for voluntary blood donations has spread far and wide with an increasing number of donors ready to help save other people’s lives.

However, the volume of blood donated by volunteers in Vietnam is much lower than in Singapore and the Republic of Korea, meeting only 30 percent of the present-day requirements.

Most donors are young people, while many State employees and managers are reluctant as they think blood donation is a “private business” concerning the healthcare sector only.

It is high time that people regarded giving blood as a noble obligation, said State President Nguyen Minh Triet.

In a letter sent to people on Blood Donation Day (April 7), Mr Triet called on individuals, collectives and particularly managers to take part in blood donation campaign to help save people’s lives.

One reason is that not a few still hesitate to donate blood for fear of affecting their own health.

Moreover, the blood donation campaign has been launched only in major cities and at universities and not in State agencies or rural areas. Therefore, it is essential to encourage more people to take part in the event to turn it into a social movement.

In its campaign last summer, the Vietnam Red Cross Society collected more than 140,000 units for hospitals to save many people’s lives.

So, everyone should donate blood even if they are old or young, rich or poor, male or female.