On the occasion of World Blood Donor Day, a ceremony was held on June 14 in Hanoi to honor 100 voluntary dedicated blood donors.
The ceremony is part of activities in response to World Blood Donor Day ( on June 14) launched by the national steering board to encourage people to voluntarily donate their blood to save other people. The ceremony is a chance so that the community and patients can express their gratitude to blood donors.
Among the 100 honorary attendees, 46 people donated their blood at least 20 times last year. Especially, 10 donors gave their blood between 60 and 96 times in 2014, while 43 others were recognized for their efforts in calling on hundreds of others to donate blood; and 6 people are representatives for 6 exemplary families whose members are voluntary blood donors.
Last year, the country received more than 1 million blood units of which over 96 percent from voluntary donors.
At the ceremony, Chairman of the Central Committee of the Viet Nam Fatherland Front Nguyen Thien Nhan asked local authorities to co-operate more with the health sector and Red Cross to increase public awareness about the benefits of blood donation.
Agencies, unions and organizations should encourage their employees and members to donate blood for saving people.
Mr. Nhan also urged the Ministry of Health to complete the blood donation law and stem cell to submit to the National Assembly in 2016.