In his opening remarks, Director of the National Instituteof Hematology and Blood Transfusion (NIHBT) Bach Quoc Khanh, who is head of thefestival’s organizing board, said that the festival has been held annuallysince 2008 to address blood shortages after the lunar New Year holiday, andgradually changed public awareness of blood donation.
After 13 editions, the festival has collected over 85,000blood units and become the annual biggest blood donation event.
Khanh took the occasion to express his gratitude fordonators nationwide.
The 14th edition is taking place from March 1-7at the NIHBT headquarters, and three fixed places - 26 Luong Ngoc Quyen in HoanKiem district, 132 Quan Nhan in Thanh Xuan district, and Valley 122 of LangStreet in Dong Da district.
The organizing board expects to receive over 4,000 bloodunits during this year’s festival, which then will be allocated to nearly 180hospitals and medical establishments of 28 provinces and cities in the northernregion.
It has also made thorough preparations to welcome donors soas to ensure COVID-19 prevention and control as recommended by the World HealthOrganisation and the Health Ministry./.