The Hanoi Department of Health and the National Institute of Haematology and Blood Transfusion (NIHBT) launched a blood donation campaign on February 23 with a view to collect 1,500 units from donors in the first phase of 2021.

Blood donation at the NIHBT. Photo: Ngoc Tu

Trinh To Tam, head of the Trade Union under the municipal health sector, said that the first phase of the blood donation campaign will take place till February 26, at four locations including Duc Giang General Hospital, the NIHBT, Quoc Oai General Hospital, and Dong Anh Medical Center.

The timing of second phase will be decided depending on the actual situation and the Covid-19 evolution and it is expected to take place in August 2021, Tam added.

He said to cope with the current severe blood shortage, the municipal health sector has urged people to donate blood.

Hundreds of people have responded to the NIHBT’s call and all blood donors were required to wear face masks, wash their hands with disinfectant solution and sit two meters apart from each other to prevent Covid-19 contagion.

“The NIHBT would apply strict safety measures against Covid-19 during blood collection," Tam said.

He blamed the long holiday and harsh weather for the severe blood shortage as blood is a biological product with very short shelf life while blood transfusion need is permanent.

In addition, the pandemic of acute respiratory infections caused by Covid-19 has further aggravated the blood shortage.

Although the number of patients visiting and being treated in hospitals has decreased, leading to low demand for blood, the NIHBT still needs an average of 700 units of blood daily to supply to hospitals in 25 provinces and cities.