Vice President Nguyen Thi Doan launched the 2013 Red Spring Festival in Hanoi on March 3, an annual event promoting blood donation to help patients in need. 

Addressing the event, Deputy Health Minister Nguyen Thi Xuyen highlighted the significance of the initiative. Red Spring is jointly organized by the National Institute of Haematology and Blood Transfusion, the Hanoi Steering Committee of Voluntary Blood Donation, and the Hanoi Youth Blood Donation Mobilization Association.

Since its debut in 2008, society has answered the festival’s call, the minister said. He praised the individuals who donate blood to help save lives.

This year’s festival is expected to attract 20,000 donors and collect around 7,000 units of blood, reducing the current blood shortage strains affecting more than 120 northern hospitals. National Institute of Haematology and Blood Transfusion Director Nguyen Anh Tri said blood donation campaigns have been carried out through 50 provinces and cities after the Lunar New Year (Tet) Festival and will soon be expanded to include other localities.

The annual festival has collected more than 27,000 units of blood since 2008.

VOV