On December 18, the National Institute of Hematology and Blood Transfusion held a meeting with leaders and managers of units to coordinate in organizing blood donation and the 2025 Red Drops Award Ceremony - a quiet event but carrying the life weight of millions of people.
Not noisy, not flashy, but each "Red Drop" honored is a life mach, a hope given in the most fragile moments of life.
The Red Drops Award held since 2008 has become a symbol of respect for love, responsibility and dedication to the community of people behind the voluntary blood donation movement.
Associate Professor, Dr. Nguyen Ha Thanh, Director of the National Institute of Hematology and Blood Transfusion, said: In 2025, 18 outstanding collectives and 11 individuals will be honored. They are the units that persistently develop a scientific and consistent blood receiving plan, not letting the hospital fall into a "blood-thirsty" situation. Organizing proactive speak up, calling on the community to donate blood at the most stressful times, when each unit of blood is vital.
In particular, the individuals who received the awards are not only leaders, managers, and policy advisers, but also enthusiastic leaders of blood donation movements, journalists, and artists who use their influence to move the community.
The event is not only a ceremony of honor, but also a gentle but urgent warning: The Lunar New Year 2026 is approaching - the time when blood is often scarce.
The National Institute of Hematology and Blood Transfusion calls on agencies, units and organizations across the country to be ready to join hands and organize voluntary blood donation programs, so that no emergency case has to wait in despair due to anemia.
In 2025, the whole country mobilized and received 1,746,286 units of blood, of which over 98% were from voluntary blood donors; the rate of blood donors returning to nearly 67%. The National Institute of Hematology and Blood Transfusion alone has received nearly 500,000 units of whole blood, accounting for nearly 30% of the total blood volume of the country. A series of major campaigns such as the Red Spring Festival, Red Blood Drops in the summer, and Red Journey were implemented simultaneously, contributing to ensuring blood supply for emergency care and treatment.
That valuable blood source has helped the Institute ensure the examination and treatment of thousands of patients every day; at the same time, blood is provided to more than 180 hospitals in the northern provinces and cities and regularly supports and supports blood for hospitals in the central and southern regions.
In 2026, the health sector strives to receive about 1.95 million units of blood, raising the rate of voluntary blood donors to 99%, the population donating blood to about 1.9%, while promoting the application of information technology, moving towards unifying the management of blood donors' data nationwide, developing a force for repeat blood donation, reducing blood donation and improving the capacity of the blood science system - blood transfusion, ensuring a safe, stable and sustainable blood supply.
