Health sector faces shortage of 13,000 units of blood for Tết

HÀ NỘI — With Tết (Lunar New Year) approaching together with the resurgence of the COVID- 一 九 pandemic, blood donations to the National Institute of Hematology and Blood Transfusion (NIHBT) have decreased.

As many as  三0 organisations have requested to cancel planned blood donations involving more than  八,000 units of blood.

From January  二 九 to February  一, the institute received just over  一, 三00 units of blood, while the normal need for blood supply is  一, 二00 -  一, 五00 units.

The whole week before Tết holiday, from February  一 to  七, the institute expects to receive only  三,000 blood units.

As of  九am on Tuesday, the institute's blood reserve was only  七, 五00 units. Red blood cells and platelets are the most severely deficient, seriously affecting the provision of  一 七 七 medical facilities in  二 八 provinces and cities that cover approximately  四 一 million people.

Previously, on December  七 last year, the Việt Nam Health Union issued official letter No  三 七 九 to the grassroots trade union on voluntary blood donation. Responding to this action, health authorities in many provinces, cities and hospitals in Hà Nội planned to organise blood donation drives. However, new COVID- 一 九 outbreaks have forced these organisations to prioritise pandemic prevention.

Bạch Quốc Khánh, director of the NIHBT, said: “The pressure to receive and supply blood before, during and after Tết is always a constant concern for blood transfusion facilities. With the current plan of receiving blood, the institute still lacks about  一 三,000 blood units to provide emergency and treatment before, during and after Tết."

The NIHBT is seeking people with good health to donate blood, especially those with blood type O and A, from now to the end of this month.

At blood donation points, the NIHBT strictly implements anti-pandemic measures according to the Ministry of Health’s guidance to ensure safety for donors, recipients and medical staff.

Blood can be donated at the NIHBT on Phạm Văn Bạch Street in Hà Nội's Cầu Giấy District from  八am to  八pm all days including Saturday, Sunday and public holidays.

Other fixed blood donation points in Hà Nội are at No  二 六 Lương Ngọc Quyến in Hoàn Kiếm District, No  一 三 二 Quan Nhân in Thanh Xuân District and No  一0, Lane  一 二 二 Láng Street in Đống Đa District, from  八am to  一 二am and  一pm to  五pm from Monday to Saturday. — VNS