Blood donation is more necessary than ever in the wake of Covid-19 pandemic as most of Da Nang's campaigns to encourage people to sign up as voluntary blood donors have been cancelled in a bid to tackle the spread of the virus.

Members of the ‘Beloved Hands’ club donating blood voluntarily at the Maternity and Paediatrics Hospital

In their efforts to to secure the blood supply for local hospitals, many blood donor clubs across Da Nang have taken the initiative to encourage their members and local residents to come to hospitals to donate their life-saving gifts of blood.

Mrs Nguyen Thi Ngoc Hien, leader of the ‘Ban Mai Xanh’ Blood Donor Club said public hospitals across Da Nang have been facing a dire shortage of blood for emergencies and treatment since the second wave of Covid-19 infections hit the city in late July. Therefore, local hospitals have called on blood donor clubs citywide to support them to save lives of patients.

Mrs Hien remarked that since late July, her club’s members have donated a total of 164 units of blood to use for emergencies and treatment in the light of Covid-19 pandemic.

Leader of the ‘Understanding and Loving’ Club Tran Phuoc Hung noted giving blood was one of the things he and other club members could do to support the hospitals' efforts to save lives of patients during the pandemic.

Mr Hung noted that over 1,000 club members have showed their willingness and readiness to donate blood voluntarily regardless of how far they have to go and whether it is day or night.

“80 units of blood have been donated to use for emergency cases at hospitals in Da Nang and Quang Nam Province” Mr Hung emphasised.

Mr Vo Hong Trung, leader of the ‘Beloved Hands’ blood donor club, said, since late July, his club has coordinated with the Hematology and Blood Transfusion Ward of the city-based Maternity and Paediatrics Hospital to run two small-scale blood donation campaigns to collect about 160 units of blood from donors.

Chairwoman of the Da Nang Red Cross Society Le Thi Nhu Hong said “Restrictions are easing in Da Nang, we are now entering the ‘new normal’. By donating blood, we can help save lives, and our blood donation is an amazing gift to people who need it in an emergency or for on-going medical treatment”.

By LAM PHUONG - Translated by M.D