‘Red Sunday’ blood drive aims to collect 35,000 units for Tet 2018

The announcement was made in Hanoi at a January 17 press conference held by the festival organizers, Tien Phong (Vanguard) newspaper, the National Committee for Traffic Safety, and the National Institute of Hematology and Blood Transfusion.

The blood drive is being rolled out in 31 provinces and cities nationwide from mid December 2017 to the end of January 2018. Around 19 provinces and cities have held a ‘Red Sunday’ campaign so far, collecting nearly 25,000 units of blood, reaching two-thirds of their goal. The principal collection day will take place on Sunday (January 21) in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, and many other localities.

Le Xuan Son, editor-in-chief of Vanguard newspaper, said the event has attracted donations from across the social classes in order to meet the increased demand for medical treatment during Tet.

The NIHBT is in dire need of blood type O while the program is underway. Thousands of blood donation volunteers around the country  including 2,000 donors at the institute responded to the call for type O donations soon after it was put out on mass media and social networks.

The country’s blood banks require around 320,000 units of blood for medical treatment and blood reserve before and after Tet 2018.