Blood donors are honored at a ceremony in Hanoi on July 30 (Photo: VGP)

Blood donation has become more and more popular nationwide with a growing number of donors. 

Since the COVID-19 pandemic, the public has become more aware of their responsibility to the community, seeing blood donation as a noble gesture and a responsibility to the community and society.

People across Vietnam have donated thousands of blood units and saved thousands of people in critical condition.

The 100 honorees at the meeting on Sunday donated nearly 4,500 blood units or platelet units. Two of them donated 100 times or more, including 52-year-old Tran Minh Men of Binh Thuan province.

"I first donated blood in 2001. Blood donation to save other people has been ingrained in my heart," said Mr. Men. 

This is the 15th year that activities honoring blood donors have been held since the Prime Minister issued the Decision to establish the National Steering Committee for Voluntary Blood Donation in 2008. Each year, 100 outstanding blood donors are honored. They are role models who have inspired thousands of people to follow suit. 

The slogan for the 2023 World Blood Donor Day campaign is “Give blood, give plasma, share life, share often.” It highlights the importance of giving blood or plasma regularly to create a safe, sustainable supply of blood and blood products all over the world so that every patient in need can receive timely life-saving treatment.

Associate Professor Dr. Nguyen Ha Thanh, Director of the National Institute of Hematology and Blood Transfusion, said: "We want to honor voluntary blood donors, thereby promoting and spreading this noble act in the community. These actions have given sick people an opportunity to get better."