(VOVWORLD) - Blood donation activities were interrupted by the recent storm and floods in northern Vietnam. As soon as the storm had passed, volunteers began donating blood to ensure timely treatment for patients.
Donated blood is a special Mid-Autumn Festival gift for pediatric patients who are confined in the hospital and can’t go home to celebrate the holiday with their family.
Cuu Huu Diem of Bao Yen district, Lao Cai province, who once spent months in the hospital receiving blood transfusions, understands the importance of blood for emergency treatment. On his eighth visit to donate blood, he participated in the "Mid-Autumn Festival for Children" program at the National Institute of Hematology and Blood Transfusion.
Diem said: "I’ve spent a lot of time in the hospital and I understand the critical condition of patients waiting for blood, so donating blood means a lot to me. If I had one wish during this Mid-Autumn Festival, I would wish for all the children here to enjoy good health and that there will always be enough blood in reserve."
 More than 2,000 blood units were collected during the ‘Mid-Autumn Festival for Children’ blood donation festival 2024. |
Hoang Manh Thang, a reporter with Tien Phong newspaper, covered the provinces affected by typhoon Yagi. He expressed regret that many Mid-Autumn Festival events had to be canceled, including the famous Tuyen Citadel Mid-Autumn Festival in Tueyn Quang province. After returning from the flood-hit areas, Thang took a short break from work to donate platelets for pediatric patients during the Mid-Autumn Festival.
"At the National Institute of Hematology, many children need platelets and other blood products. This platelet donation is my small Mid-Autumn gift for the children who need it," said Thang.
Ho Van Lam, who works for Samsung SDS Vietnam, near the National Institute of Hematology, learned about the program and wanted to donate blood for the pediatric patients. He also wanted to check his health through the blood tests that each donor gets.
“Unfortunately, I couldn't donate platelets today because of time constraints, so I donated blood instead. In return I received a health check-up. Though my company provides annual health check-ups, I wanted to check my health for any potential issue I might not be aware of yet,” said Lam.
Vu Ha My, a member of the organizing committee of the “Mid-Autumn Festival for Children,” said the goal of the program was to collect 2,000 blood units. Despite several stormy days, many people donated blood once the weather improved.
"The ‘Mid-Autumn Festival for Children’ blood donation festival has been held for 12 years with the motto ‘Lighting up Vietnamese Childhood’. We invite artists who want to spread the love to be guest speakers, media ambassadors, and goodwill ambassadors," said My.
Many children can’t be with their family because they have to stay in the hospital for treatment. A round of blood transfusion and iron chelation lasts 7 to 14 days, meaning they can lose two weeks of school. But every drop of blood donated sows hope and brightens their future.