Where every drop of blood becomes a lifeline

For more than a year, a special place has become a point of connection and compassion, where "drops of compassionate blood" have silently helped extend the lives of patients. That place is the fixed blood donation site at Dong Nai General Hospital.

Medical staff at Dong Nai General Hospital participate in a voluntary blood donation drive.

Ending blood shortages

According to Specialist Level II Doctor Le Van Thong Nhat, Head of the Hematology - Blood Transfusion Department at Dong Nai General Hospital, when the Covid-19 pandemic became severe in 2021, many hospitals faced shortages of blood reserves due to social distancing measures. This posed a major challenge, as many patients depended on blood reserves for emergency care and treatment. To address this "problem," Dr. Thong Nhat proposed that the hospital leadership, the Dong Nai Red Cross Society, and the Cho Ray Blood Transfusion Center organize blood collection drives within the hospital. A large number of officials, medical staff, and patients' families responded enthusiastically, helping the hospital secure sufficient blood for patient treatment.

However, more than a year ago, when local administrative units were merged and the Dong Nai Red Cross apparatus had not yet been consolidated, Dong Nai experienced another blood shortage. As a result, blood donation drives within hospitals once again proved effective.

Conditions for blood donation are as follows: Healthy individuals aged 18 to 60 must meet the following criteria: women should weigh 42 kg or more, and men should weigh 45 kg or more; they must have a hemoglobin level of 120 g/l or higher; they should not have or be at risk of transfusion-transmitted diseases such as HIV, hepatitis B, hepatitis C, or syphilis; they must not be currently suffering from an acute illness; and there should be a minimum interval of 12 weeks between two whole blood donations.

With the aim of proactively securing blood reserves, Dong Nai General Hospital proposed establishing a fixed blood donation site on the hospital's first floor. This is the first fixed blood donation site model to be implemented in the Southern region, designed to operate professionally and regularly while making blood donation more convenient for the public.

"Initially, the blood donation site operated three days a week. Now, the frequency has been increased to five days a week, from Monday to Friday; at the same time, two Sundays per month have been added to meet donors' needs. After one year of operation, the site has received about 6,000 units of blood," said Dr. Thong Nhat.

Dr. Thong Nhat noted that blood is a special kind of "medicine" that cannot be artificially produced and can only be obtained through the volunteerism of healthy people. Thanks to its proactive approach to securing blood supplies, the hospital has recently ensured blood is available for emergency care and patient treatment.

Every drop of blood represents a potential opportunity for life

On the morning of August 26, Luu Hong Diep, a resident of Tran Bien Ward, arrived at the fixed blood donation site at Dong Nai General Hospital. He registered to donate blood, had his blood pressure checked by a doctor, underwent a general health examination, and had his blood tested. Once he was deemed eligible, medical staff proceeded to draw his blood.

Diep said, "Previously, I often participated in mobile blood donation drives organized by the Dong Nai Red Cross Society in coordination with the Cho Ray Blood Transfusion Center. However, I could not donate blood regularly because I was sometimes unable to arrange the time. Since the fixed blood donation site was established at Dong Nai General Hospital, donating blood has become much more convenient. In total, I have donated blood 24 times so far."

"I work in the pharmaceutical industry, so I clearly understand the importance of blood reserves for emergency care and treatment. So, whenever I am healthy, I want my drops of blood to be able to save someone," said Diep.

Also motivated by the desire to save lives, Nguyen Van Hiep, from Engineer Brigade 25, Military Region 7, has donated blood eight times, including three times at the fixed blood donation site at Dong Nai General Hospital.

Hiep said, "This fixed blood donation site helps me save travel time. When I can arrange my work, I report to my unit and then come to donate blood. After the doctor conducted a thorough examination, I happily donated 350 ml of blood."

Not only do officials, staff, and people living and working near Dong Nai General Hospital actively donate blood, but many people from farther away, who are caring for relatives undergoing treatment at the hospital, are also ready to participate in blood donation.

Nguyen Thien Tri, a resident of Tri An Ward, said, "I am caring for my wife, who is giving birth at the hospital. After hearing the hospital's loudspeaker call for blood donations, I immediately went to donate blood to help others."

Blood donation to save lives is no longer merely a movement but has become a regular and continuous activity. At the fixed blood donation site at Dong Nai General Hospital, donors do not know whom they will save, and recipients do not even know the names of those who gave them such a precious gift. Yet an invisible thread always connects them. That is human compassion.

By Hanh Dung – Translated by Minh Hong, Minho