The event was taking place on January 6 in Hanoi University of Science and Technology hosted by Tien Phong newspaper in co-ordination with the National Institute of Hematology and Blood Transfusion, the Voluntary Blood Donation Steering Board and the National Traffic Safety Committee.
Vice Chairman of the National Assembly (NA) Uong Chu Luu, Health Minister Nguyen Thi Kim Tien and thousands of young members of youth communist unions in higher education institutions, Miss Vietnam 2018 Tran Tieu Vy in and soccer players Dinh Trong and Van Quyet attended the event.
Tien Phong Editor-in-Chief Le Xuan Son said the Red Sunday 2019 has received good response of local administration countrywide and organizations. The Red Sunday organizer hoped to receive more than 45,000 blood units from voluntary blood donors in seventy places in 35 cities and provinces across the country.
The National Institute of Hematology and Blood Transfusion said before, in and after Tet holiday (the Lunar New Year) there has been severe shortage of blood for treatment demand.
In January alone, the institute needs 31,000 blood units for patients; accordingly, the blood collected from the Red Sunday will meet the treatment demand.
Speaking at the event, Mr. Luu said that blood donation to save is good deed glorifying Vietnam’s tradition “. Do as you would be done by”
He added that he admired voluntary blood donors many times and those who both give blood and encourage relatives and friends to donate blood.
On her part, Health Minister Nguyen Thi Kim Tien said that for twenty years, blood donation movement has taken place in Vietnam with participation of tens of millions of donors.
According to the Voluntary Blood Donation Steering board, the country has over 1.4 million voluntary blood donors in 2018 satisfying 75 percent of treatment demand.
She also expressed gratitude to blood donors who are willing to give their blood to save others.
After the inauguration ceremony, Mr. Luu and Minister Tien and leaders of agencies visited some blood donors in the event.
