Banks of life

Before dinner, the members of the rare blood type club received a notice from the club leader in a private Zalo group: a member of the group was about to give birth and was at risk of needing a blood transfusion. The members were mentally prepared to donate blood when mobilized.

Upon receiving a notification from a member of the Rare Blood Group Club, Mr. Nguyen Ngoc Hien proactively left his phone number. From that moment on, Mr. Hien did not dare to take his eyes off his phone. Mr. Hien said that people with rare blood types can donate blood to others but cannot receive blood from other sources. Therefore, we are like a family, ready to share and help each other when needed. Although we work in many localities, when we receive a request to donate blood to save people, including patients in other localities, we do not mind the long distance, ready to go to the place in need, even late at night.

Mr. Hien said that he accidentally discovered that he had the rare Rh- blood type during a voluntary blood donation many years ago. After learning more about this blood type, he proactively contacted rare blood type clubs across the country to share information and support each other when needed. When there was a rare blood type club in Ninh Binh, Mr. Hien immediately joined. This is a meeting place and a place for people with rare blood types in the province to share, and at the same time, it is a quick contact point for donors when patients with rare blood types need emergency blood transfusions.

To date, the club has grown to nearly 20 members, regularly exchanging information and being ready to donate blood to save lives. With many years of experience in the rare blood type club, along with the advice and professional support of the Provincial Voluntary Blood Donation Steering Committee, club members actively promote, mobilize, and call on people with the same blood type to participate in activities and save lives. The club also connects with many other rare blood types across the country to share information and support each other.

In the past 12 years, since the first time he participated in voluntary blood donation (VBD), up to now, Mr. Do Cong Chien (Department of Health) has had 23 VBDs. For Mr. Chien, each time he participates in blood donation is a time that brings him unforgettable emotions. "It is joy, emotion and pride when I have done a good deed, something that every citizen needs to do and should do. 23 times of blood donation, the memory that I remember most is the emergency blood donation in 2013. That day, on my way home from work, I received a call from the family of a pregnant woman who was being treated at the Provincial Maternity and Pediatrics Hospital, needing an emergency blood transfusion. Without any hesitation, I quickly went to the hospital to donate blood to save a person. Along with me, there were other volunteers. The timely donated blood saved that pregnant woman from a critical condition" - Mr. Chien shared.

Banks of life — Awarding the decision to establish the White Blouse+ HMTN Club.

By 2023, when the White Blouse + Voluntary Blood Donation Club was established under Decision No. 95/QD-BCĐ dated July 4, 2023 of the Provincial Voluntary Blood Donation Steering Committee, Mr. Do Cong Chien was assigned to be the chairman of the Club. At the time of establishment, the Club had 40 members. are civil servants, public employees, workers in the health sector and those who have the same aspirations and conditions to participate in propaganda, mobilization and organization of voluntary blood donation activities.

After its establishment, the "White Blouse +" Voluntary Blood Donation Club issued regulations, created an identification logo, and issued uniforms to members. The Club regularly participates in voluntary blood donation activities organized by the Voluntary Blood Donation Steering Committee at all levels and units. In addition, Club members actively promote the Club's activities on social networking platforms such as Zalo, Facebook; establish a fanpage and Zalo group of the Club.

Since its establishment, the Board of Directors and members of the Club have actively participated in blood donation, and at the same time mobilized the community to participate in blood donation activities. Along with that, actively expanding exchanges, connections, and recruiting members. Therefore, after 6 months of operation, the number of members in the Club has increased to 80 people, including health workers and many volunteers throughout the province and neighboring localities.

The "White Blouse +" Voluntary Blood Donation Club has promoted, mobilized and organized for members to participate in 7 emergency blood donation programs organized by the Provincial Red Cross Society and 1 program hosted by the Club, resulting in 150 units of blood being received, contributing to timely emergency and treatment for patients. With a large number of volunteers, the Club has also proactively provided blood for emergency blood donation campaigns as well as voluntary blood donation campaigns launched by the Provincial Red Cross Society.

The results of the voluntary blood donation movement of the "White Blouse +" Ninh Binh Voluntary Blood Donation Club have helped supplement valuable blood sources to contribute to meeting the need for blood in emergency care, patient treatment, and community health care. At the same time, through the above activities, the noble humanitarian meaning of voluntary blood donation has been spread, demonstrating the spirit of mutual love, willingness to share, and volunteering for community life. With these contributions, in 2023, the White Blouse + Voluntary Blood Donation Club was awarded a certificate of merit by the Central Committee of the Vietnam Red Cross Society.

In recent years, the voluntary blood donation movement in the province has achieved impressive results. Typically, in 2021, our province achieved a record of receiving over 10,000 units of blood for the first time. In 2023, the whole province received 12,300 units of blood, reaching 137% of the plan assigned by the Provincial People's Committee. Of which, Ninh Binh Provincial General Hospital received over 7,000 units, the remaining blood was shared with Viet Duc Friendship Hospital and the National Institute of Hematology and Blood Transfusion.

Contributing to that success is the very special role of members of 19 live blood bank clubs, typically: Rh- rare blood group club; Provincial Police, Thanh Xuan Xanh, Provincial Police Youth Union and Provincial Agencies and Enterprises; some live blood bank clubs of localities: Yen Khanh, Ninh Binh city, Tam Diep city, Nho Quan district and Yen Mo district... Every time they received a notice of urgent need for a large number of blood units to save patients, members of the live blood bank clubs did not hesitate to face difficulties, immediately present to donate blood with the spirit of all for the life and health of patients.

Through the effective activities of the clubs, the list of volunteers participating in blood donation is getting longer. Many noble acts continue to spread, contributing to bringing life chances to patients who are unfortunately suffering from serious illnesses.

Article and photos: Dao Hang

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