Since the start of the year, members of the Blue Morning Warm Blood Club under  Lien Chieu District Chapter of the Da Nang Red Cross Society have donated more than 1,500 units of blood and 200 units of platelets. They are the core force in the city’s voluntary blood donation campaigns, and they demonstrate their readiness and willingness to help people in need of blood during an emergency.

Volunteers of the Blue Morning Green Warm Blood Club donate blood during a voluntary blood donation drive launched by the Da Nang Oncology Hospital. Photo: H.T.V

Mr. Tran Khanh An, aged 24, who is the Deputy Secretary of the Youth Union Organisation of Hai Chau District’s Thanh Binh Ward and a member of the Blue Morning Warm Blood Club has brought his youth and enthusiasm to voluntary blood donation work, and he has till date donated blood and platelets more than 20 times.

In June 2022, he received a certificate of merit from the Chairman of the Da Nang People's Committee for his dedication to blood donation to save lives.

An remarked that he overcame his fear of needles after he had joined the Blue Morning Green Warm Blood Club. Meaningful blood donation work has helped him overcome his fear of needle phobia. He feels happy while participating in blood and platelet donation as he does something meaningful with his life.

An had an unforgettable memory in blood donation work when Da Nang imposed strict social distancing measures last year to curb the spread of COVID-19. He received a call from the Da Nang Oncology Hospital to ask for platelet donation to help save life of a cancer patient with O-Rh positive blood type. At that time, he was only one person to be eligible for platelet donation to help this patient as platelet donor were required to be unvaccinated person or had got the COVID-19 vaccine for at least 1-2 months. Therefore, he immediately agreed to donate platelets and he felt very happy after his platelet donation helped save life of this critical care patient.

An stated that platelet donation takes a much long time than whole blood donation and requires complicated processes. Thus, platelet donation tends to involve higher time and psychological costs than whole blood donation. To donate blood or platelets, donors must be in good general health. He feels happy because a small contribution from him can make a big difference to others.

Huynh Thi Thuy, aged 22, who is a history teacher at the Tran Quy Cap Junior High School in Cam Le District, has become an active member of the Blue Morning Warm Blood Club for more than 3 years. Thuy with B-Rh positive blood type has donated blood more than 17 times till date. Thuy has given the most blood donations among female club members.

Thuy expressed her deepest emotions after her blood donation helped save life of a 5-year-old child with leukaemia at the Da Nang Oncology Hospital. Thuy said happily that the health of this child patient has been improved and the child doesnot need chemotherapy drugs thanks to her blood donation. Thuy remarked that as long as she can donate blood, she will continue to do so to bring smiles to patients and save lives.

Established for more than 8 years, the Blue Morning Warm Blood Club has till date nearly 10 members and attracted the participation of 1,000 volunteers who are school pupils, college students, civil servants, armed forces, employees at Da Nang’s companies.

Mr Phan Xuan Phuc, aged 30, the club's founder, said that the club has worked with hospitals across the city, especially the Da Nang Oncology Hospital, to launch blood donation drives. The club’s volunteers not only participate in blood donation following an emergency, but also encourage their friends and relatives to show their willingness to donate blood voluntarily..

Mr Nguyen Huu Ha, the Chairman of the Lien Chieu District Chapter of the Da Nang Red Cross Association applauded the club for its dedication to blood donation for many years in a bid to help save lives in a timely manner. He also highlighted the important role of the club in helping the city’s hospitals overcome a shortage of blood and platelet banks, especially banks of rare blood types.

In 2021, the Blue Morning Warm Blood Club donated 1,900 blood units to the Da Nang Oncology Hospital. Organisations and individuals have received certificates of merit from the Da Nang government in recognition of their blood donation more than 15 times.

In 2022, apart from the Blue Morning Warm Blood Club, the Lien Chieu District Chapter has launched two blood donation campaigns to collect more than 600 blood units from donors, said Mr. Ha.

Reporting by HUYNH TUONG VY – Translating by H.L