In 2014, in Vietnam, 96% of the blood collection came from voluntary donors and the blood donation rate was 1.17% of the country population, with over 9 million units of blood collected.

Voluntary blood donation helps to ensure safe blood transfusion. (Photo: nihbt.org.vn)

The information was announced during the second Asian meeting for self-sufficiency of blood and blood products based on voluntary non-remunerated donation which was held in Hanoi from November 9^th-10^th.

During the meeting, health experts from 8 Asian countries, including Japan, Germany, Malaysia, Singapore, Cambodia, Laos, the Philippines and Vietnam, discussed ways to develop voluntary non-remunerated blood.

According to Le Quang Cuong, Deputy Minister of Health, the Government and the Ministry of Health have paid great attention to increasing blood donation.

Vietnam has built up the blood transfusion system of the country, and put into effective operation of 5 major blood transfusion centres in Hanoi, Hue, Da Nang, Ho Chi Minh and Can Tho cities while regional blood transfusion centres and departments of hematology and blood transfusion at the provincial and city levels have also been set up.

In addition, it has established a system of voluntary blood donation steering committees at the central, provincial and city, district, and communal levels. “This is a major guideline to mobilise the participation of authorities and perse agencies in encouraging voluntary blood donation,” said Mr. Cuong.

Vietnam targets to collect 100% of the blood from voluntary donors by 2020 by regularly organising blood donation campaigns at the national scale and developing the network of volunteers and collaborators to serve the work. So far, 1,000 voluntary blood donation clubs with over 20,000 members are operating across the country./.

( Compiled by VNF )