The Central Institute of Hematology and Blood Transfusion (CIHBT) has announced it is facing a severe shortage of blood and urged people to donate blood to maintain supply amid the fourth wave of COVID-19.
Hanoi (VNS/VNA) - The Central Institute of Hematology and Blood Transfusion (CIHBT)has announced it is facing a severe shortage of blood and urged people todonate blood to maintain supply amid the fourth wave of COVID-19.
Deputydirector of the institute Pham Tuan Duong said due to the re-emergence of theCOVID-19 pandemic, many blood donors did not come to give blood afterregistering, leading to a sharp decrease in blood reserves.
Manyentities have postponed or cancelled blood donation drives, even in localitieswithout reported COVID-19 cases.
Asa result, the blood reserves at the institute and many blood centres havedecreased sharply, especially in the northern region where many localities arethe hotspot of the pandemic.
Inthe institute alone, between April 27 and May 11, the amount of blood receivedwas only 30 percent of the goal.
Asmany as 47 blood donation schedules with the expected reception of 25,000 bloodunits were postponed or cancelled.
TheCentral Institute of Hematology and Blood Transfusion is the unit responsiblefor supplying blood to 27 provinces and cities in the north home to 40million people.
Inthe first 12 days of this month, the institute received only 2,920 bloodunits but provided 4,822 blood units. On average, the institute stillneeds up to 1,000 units of blood and nearly 200 units of platelets per day.
Inthe southern region, the same situation has occurred at Ho Chi Minh City’sBlood Transfusion and Hematology Hospital. So far, 23 blood donation scheduleswith the equivalent of 4,200 units of blood have been cancelled. The amount ofblood received in the first half of this month was only 50 percent of the plan.
Todeal with the situation, Duong has urged localities to maintain theirblood donation plans and strengthen blood donation schedules in localities withno reported COVID-19 cases. Blood donation must comply with the Ministry ofHealth’s regulations on pandemic prevention and control.
Theinstitute also suggested hospitals temporarily delay planned surgery to saveemergency blood supply and encourage patients' family members in medicalfacilities that are under lockdown to participate in blood donation./.
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Illustrative image (Photo: VNA) 
