Recorded from the plain Blood Guard
We were directly present at Can Tho City Hematology - Blood Transfusion Hospital to record the actual situation at the Blood Guard Station (under the Department of Sanitation - Treatment - Supply). The vision of a reporter helps us understand the significant decline in blood quantity, because the inside of the retail warehouse is no longer as full as before, while the large warehouse area has only a few hundred blood bags in reserve.
Under ideal conditions, this Blood more than enough storage is usually maintained with 4,000 - 5,000 blood bags to respond to emergencies and provide to nearly 80 hospitals and medical centers in the Mekong Delta region. With the shortage of blood reserves, the Hospital's Board of Directors is forced to carefully consider the use of blood, giving absolute priority to emergency cases. The hospital no longer organizes blood donations but instead, units have to proactively come and receive them.
At the Department of Humanitarian Blood Donation, Doctor Nguyen Xuan Khoi shared that normally, blood donation mobilization in provinces and cities in the Mekong Delta registers about 15,000 - 18,000 units of blood/month, of which about 12,000 units are collected after health check-ups. However, statistics from April to June show that the Department only received about 7,000 units of blood. In July alone, the registration schedule from provinces and cities was quite low, reaching only about 5,000 units.
Ms. Phan Ngoc Nhu Quynh (Can Tho City) is a volunteer called by medical staff to donate blood on the morning of July 4. Ms. Quynh shared with us The doctors called me to arrange to come immediately, because I knew that each drop of my blood given would help save the lives of patients out there. However, when I came here today, I saw the deserted space, not many people donating like the previous few times".
Reports
Specialist Doctor II Huynh Minh Phu - Director of Can Tho City Hematology and Blood Transfusion Hospital informed us that in addition to taking advantage of regular blood donation sources, through the initiative of the grassroots Trade Union, the Board of Directors and the staff, union members, and youth of the whole Hospital have responded to participate in blood donation, collecting more than 50 units of blood, contributing significantly in the current context of scarcity.
The hospital is making every effort to synchronously implement solutions to avoid being passive. Because upper-level hospitals are also facing similar difficulties and cannot provide blood donations to the Mekong Delta as before. Dr. Phu emphasized: The blood reserve is decreasing sharply, directly affecting the lives of patients not only in Can Tho but also in the entire Mekong Delta region. Each unit of blood donated at this time has the meaning of survival".
After listening to the "captain's" concerns and conducting a survey on blood use at a number of hospitals, after 2 hours of recording, we had the product and posted it on Electronic Labor. To spread the trend, we also coordinated with the Hospital Board of Directors to post link to the article on social networking platforms, thereby receiving feedback from readers.
Typically, Thach Thi Hoang Han - a medical student at Can Tho University of Medicine and Pharmacy - proactively went to the Department of Humanities Blood Donation to donate platelets. Hoang Han said: "I have donated blood 6 times before and this is the first time I have donated platelets. I feel very happy, because this not only saves many lives, but also brings many benefits to both receiveers and donors. I also hope that through my small action, it will spread so that people understand and donate more blood".
The community joins hands
A few days later, the Can Tho Department of Health also called on all people in the city and the provinces in the Mekong Delta to participate in voluntary blood donation.According to the Department of Health, blood donation is a noble gesture, demonstrating the spirit of humanity and sharing in the community.Blood is a particularly valuable treatment drug, so far only donated by healthy people.In addition, regular blood donation also helps the body increase new blood production, reduce iron excess, thereby contributing to reducing the risk of cardiovascular diseases, stroke and cancer.
Most recently, the Steering Committee for Voluntary Blood Donation also coordinated with the Central Red Journey Organizing Committee to organize the "Reds of Tay Do" Blood Donation Festival in 2025.
After a period of actively calling for blood donation, the Board of Directors of Can Tho City Hematology and Blood Transfusion Hospital shared with us that the number has changed positively. However, blood storage warehouses in the Mekong Delta region still lack a large quantity compared to before, so we hope that Lao Dong newspaper will continue to accompany the Hospital to propagate to the people.
For our journalists, the happiest thing seems to be no longer the time to complete the product to send to the news agency, but when the news is spread, it has contributed to calling on people to join hands for the community.
These days, we still follow voluntary blood donation activities and events in the Mekong Delta region and once the drops of blood are shared, I feel the happiness of the profession.
