A formal Blood Donation Law will enable Viet Nam to achieve the goal of 100% VNRBD and address its chronic shortage of blood supply.
The Law would enable the Government to a set realistic, yet progressive, timescale for achieving 100% VNRBD and at the same time family/replacement donations could be phased out and paid donations completely eliminated.
“Safe access to blood is a universal human right. Donating blood without the expectation you will be paid it a selfless act that can save countless lives,” said Dr. Jean-Marc Olivé, WHO Representative in Vietnam.
Viet Nam has made significant efforts to improve its number of voluntary blood donations.
In 2008 it reached about 70% VNRBD, by the end of 2009 75% is predicted and 80% is expected for 2010.
“This is impressive – but Viet Nam still collects less than half its total need for blood. Put simply the shortfall means people are dying unnecessarily,” Dr. Olivé said.
“Many of these patients are women and children and from poor and/or rural areas because it is in remote and rural areas where VNRBD is at its lowest.
“It so important to increase the total number of blood donations collected across the whole country – not just in the larger cities,” he said.
To help increase donor numbers right across the country WHO is advocating for changes to Viet Nam’s current blood donor programme.
These include:
• Development of a national program with consistent and common messages to attract more VNRBD
• Recruiting and training at least one salaried staff to manage blood donor recruitment in each Province to supplement the current shortfall of volunteers.
• Improve the quality of donor data by developing a common donor registry based on a national standard
• Improve funding to ensure these changes can be made and are sustainable
“These improvements will be hard work, but Viet Nam has already demonstrated a commitment to improving VNRBD and I believe with the changes outlined can be achieved,” Dr Olivé said.
“After all blood is the most precious gift that anyone can give — it is the gift of life,” he said.
What is world blood donor day?
It is a special day to recognize the millions of people who save lives and improve the health of others by freely donating blood. It is celebrated on June 14th every year.
This year’s theme is Towards 100% Voluntary Non-Remunerated blood Donation
Facts on donating blood in Viet Nam:
- Viet Nam still only collects about 40% of its total need for blood.
- That 60% shortfall costs lives.
- Around 80% of blood donors in Viet Nam are under 35 years old.
- In Viet Nam only 35 percent of donors are regular donors.
- Around 90% of Vietnam’s voluntary blood donations come from cities
- There is a chronic shortage of blood throughout the year in Viet Nam.
- Demand is highest in the summer months and during the Tet holiday period.
- This is when the rate of blood donation drops significantly.
- Every day in Viet Nam there are approximately 1300 units transfused for routine and emergency situations, but up over 3,000 are required.
- The safest source of blood is from regular and repeat voluntary unpaid donors.
- Paid, family and replacement donors are all higher risk groups than voluntary unpaid
- Donating blood is simple, safe and does not hurt. It does not make you unwell or weak.
For more information, please contact
World Health Organization 304 Kim Ma Street, Ngoc Khanh Ward, Ba Dinh District, Ha Noi Viet Nam
Postal address:
World Health Organization P.O. Box 52 Hanoi, Viet Nam
Telephone number:
+84 (0) 24 38 500 100 +84 (0) 4 38 501 888
Fax number:
+84 (0) 24 37 265 519 +84 (0) 4 37 265 520
Office hours:
08.00 to 12.00 13.00 to 17.00 (Monday to Friday)
Email: wpvnmwr@who.int