Donating blood to save lives – giving the gift of life

Amid the hustle and bustle of modern life, there are still people who quietly choose to share with others through blood donation. For them, donating blood is not merely an act of charity, but also a responsibility to the community.

Ngo Tien Dung (Dong Nai Social Insurance Agency) participates in blood donation at the fixed blood donation site in the Southern region located at Dong Nai General Hospital. Photo: Hanh Dung

Dong Nai, which has consistently ranked among the country’s leading localities in voluntary blood donation campaigns for many years, has seen the spirit of “Donating blood to save lives – giving the gift of life” spread ever more strongly, becoming a profound humanitarian value embedded in social life.

Compassionate Hearts

For more than 20 years, Nguyen Thi Thu Ha, 40, from Long Hung Ward and currently working as a nurse at a private clinic, has regularly participated in voluntary blood donation as part of her routine. Ha shared that working in the healthcare sector helped her fully understand the immense value of donating blood to save lives, especially for critically ill patients in urgent need of transfusions. After each donation, she said she feels more relaxed and that her skin looks better.

Ha Trung Kien, Vice Chairman of the Dong Nai City Red Cross Society, said that Dong Nai collected nearly 38,000 units of blood in 2024. In 2025, the figure rose to more than 51,100 units, making an important contribution to blood reserves in the Southern region.

Meanwhile, Ngo Tien Dung, 50, an employee of Dong Nai Social Insurance, has spent 15 years participating in the blood donation movement. Since his first donation in 2011, when his agency coordinated with the Dong Nai Red Cross Society and the Blood Transfusion Center of Cho Ray Hospital in Ho Chi Minh City to organize a donation campaign, Dung has donated blood 28 times.

“My blood will naturally regenerate, while many patients are desperately in need of blood, especially during summer holidays and major holidays, especially Tet (Lunar New Year), when shortages are common. That’s why donating blood is something worth doing. I always feel happy after each donation,” Dung said.

Bui Chi Hieu, 24, from Phuoc Thai Commune, has also donated blood 10 times. “After donating blood, I feel healthier and more comfortable, so I often encourage my friends to join. I hope my blood can reach someone who truly needs it,” Hieu shared.

For Nguyen Thanh Nam from Tri An Ward, blood donation is not only a community activity but also a gesture of friendship. When his close friend was diagnosed with terminal-stage colorectal cancer and needed blood transfusions, Nam and five neighbors immediately went to the hospital to donate blood in support.

A turning point in Dong Nai’s blood reserve strategy

Dr. Le Van Thong Nhat, Head of the Department of Hematology and Blood Transfusion at Dong Nai General Hospital, said the hospital began receiving donated blood directly from residents after witnessing severe blood shortages during the COVID-19 pandemic. During the pandemic, the hospital collected nearly 2,000 units of blood to support emergency treatment and patient care. Building on that foundation, the Dong Nai Red Cross Society and the Blood Transfusion Center of Cho Ray Hospital decided to establish the first fixed blood donation site in the southern region at Dong Nai General Hospital. Officially launched during the 2025 National Day holiday, the site has received enthusiastic support from local residents.

Currently, Dong Nai General Hospital uses about 40 units of blood per day, totaling about 1,200 units per month. Meanwhile, the fixed blood donation site collects between 500 and 800 units monthly, making a significant contribution to blood reserves for both the hospital and the Southern region.

One of the model’s advantages is its clean, safe, and convenient environment, which helps donors feel more comfortable than at mobile donation sites. Initially operating three days a week, the site now opens five days a week, from Monday to Friday, to meet the growing demand for blood donation.

Dr. Pham Le Nhat Minh, Deputy Director of the Blood Transfusion Center of Cho Ray Hospital, said Dong Nai has consistently been one of the leading localities in blood collection in the Southern region. According to Minh, the fixed blood donation model in Dong Nai is becoming a model for replication across the Southern region, in line with international trends toward expanding permanent donation sites and gradually reducing reliance on mobile drives to ensure safer, more convenient, and more stable blood supplies.

According to Dr. Pham Le Nhat Minh, blood cannot be artificially produced or purchased with money in life-or-death emergencies. Every donated unit of blood represents a chance of survival for accident victims, mothers suffering postpartum hemorrhage, children with blood disorders, or cancer patients in need of transfusions. He added that blood donors are helping write beautiful stories of compassion and humanity. Donating blood does not harm one’s health; instead, it encourages people to care more about themselves and live more responsibly toward the community. “Every drop of blood given is hope left behind and a life extended,” he said.

By Hanh Dung – Translated by Mai Nga, Minho