Donating blood to save lives

The humanitarian blood donation movement conveys the message "A drop of blood given, a life saved"

1. For over 10 years, the Chairman of the Red Cross Society of My An commune, Thu Thua district, Long An province - Tran Qui Chuong has been a pioneer in the voluntary blood donation movement, acting as a "bridge" for local volunteers to participate in this noble act .

In 2011, seeing that there were many people donating blood, he also joined. At first, he was worried about the impact on his health. Gradually, he felt his health stabilized and his spirit became more comfortable, so he was determined to maintain this volunteer work. To date, Mr. Chuong has donated blood 22 times. One of the most memorable memories for him was the sudden blood donation on May 1, 2019. After hearing that Long An General Hospital needed blood urgently, he quickly mobilized 2 more people to go to the hospital to donate blood within 30 minutes, helping the patient overcome the critical condition.

Chairman of the Red Cross Society of My An commune, Thu Thua district - Tran Qui Chuong is a pioneer in the voluntary blood donation movement in the locality.

In addition, Mr. Chuong also actively mobilizes people, cadres, union members, and youth to participate in blood donation . Normally, he will meet directly with people, explain in detail the benefits of blood donation, refute misconceptions, emphasize that blood donation is not harmful, blood will regenerate itself, and excess blood in the body will self-destruct if not donated. Mr. Chuong expressed: “Donating blood to save people still requires a lot of understanding. Here, people donate blood voluntarily, but blood transfusion hospitals often require high costs. Many people misunderstand that hospitals do business for profit, but in fact, it is only the cost for the screening, separation, preservation process after donation and providing blood to patients.”

In 2024, My An commune exceeded the target with 27 units of blood, Mr. Chuong mobilized 30 volunteers to participate, of which 27 were qualified. He was also honored by the province as a typical blood donor over 20 times. In addition, he was also commended many times by the Provincial Red Cross for his achievements in the Association's work and the blood donation movement.

Although he is 60 years old - the age limit for continuing to donate blood, Mr. Chuong still wants to continue if his health allows. He hopes: "As long as I am eligible, I am still willing to donate blood. Every drop of blood donated is a chance to live for others."

2. Secretary of the Youth Union of Ngai Loi A Hamlet, Loi Binh Nhon Commune, Tan An City - Pham Ngoc Tuyen is also a typical example of humanitarian blood donation . He has participated in this activity since 2010, and has donated blood about 30 times, an average of 3 times/year. "Donating blood is not only a way to help those in difficult circumstances who need blood, but also helps the body create new blood, thereby improving its own health" - Mr. Tuyen said.

Sharing his most memorable memory, he said that the first time he donated blood, he encountered a blood clot that made him worried and confused. However, the results later showed that his health was stable, the blood source was of good quality, thereby strengthening his belief and motivation to continue this meaningful journey. Regarding nutrition, Mr. Tuyen emphasized the importance of eating a nutritious diet, especially supplementing iron and protein before and after donating blood, drinking plenty of water, eating lots of green vegetables, etc.

Up to now, Secretary of the Youth Union of Ngai Loi A Hamlet, Loi Binh Nhon Commune, Tan An City - Pham Ngoc Tuyen has donated blood about 30 times.

As the secretary of the Youth Union, Mr. Tuyen actively encouraged union members and young people in the area to participate in blood donation. At first, he encountered many difficulties due to the psychological concerns of some people, especially concerns about their health after donating blood. He promoted the campaign in many ways, such as using easy-to-remember slogans, organizing hamlet meetings to share knowledge about the benefits of blood donation, and taking advantage of social networks to spread information. Thanks to his perseverance and enthusiasm, the majority of union members and young people in Ngai Loi A hamlet believed in and supported the activities he promoted.

In addition to enthusiastically participating in the Youth Union and making many contributions to the local HMTN movement, Mr. Tuyen also strives to develop the family economy , cultivating crops on 0.4 hectares of land. Balancing community responsibility and family economic burden is a big challenge, but with a sense of responsibility, he still fulfills both roles well.

I have blood type O - the universal blood type - so I regularly participate in local blood donation activities. Up to now, I have donated blood more than 30 times and feel happy because I have helped many unfortunate lives. In the future, I will continue to encourage relatives and neighbors to perform this noble act to spread the spirit of humanity in the community."

Mrs. Nguyen Ngoc Thu (Tan Trach commune, Can Duoc district)

If my health allows, I will definitely continue to donate blood. I will also actively encourage my family and friends to join in. Donating blood is a meaningful act, helping to reserve precious blood resources to promptly save the lives of patients in need."

Ms. Nguyen Thi Quynh Tran (Ward 6, Tan An City)

3. For over 8 years, Mr. Duong Quang Hoang Son Thuy (Nhat Chanh commune, Ben Luc district) has regularly participated in blood donation campaigns whenever the locality mobilizes. Although he has nearly 30 blood donation certificates, Mr. Thuy has never thought that his work is a big deal. Mr. Thuy shared: “I just think that if my blood can save someone, I should donate it. As long as I am healthy, I can still help the community and society. I am very happy to see that my small work can save someone's life.”

Mr. Thuy is currently a local barber. Talking about the opportunity to donate blood for the first time, he recalled: "When the Red Cross launched the movement in the locality, my friends invited me to go with them." After that time, seeing that his health was suitable and realizing the meaning of donating blood, he decided to maintain this humanitarian work to save people. Thanks to that, he has received many certificates of merit from all levels for his good achievements in the blood donation movement.

Many union members and young people actively participate in humanitarian blood donation, spreading the spirit of humanity in the community.

Not hiding the difficulties, Mr. Thuy said: "After each blood donation, I often feel weak and tired, so I have to pay attention to eating and resting better afterwards." Previously, he had delayed donating blood because he was iron deficient and the quality of his blood was not guaranteed. Therefore, he often reminds himself to have a regular lifestyle, go to bed early, limit the use of beer and alcohol, and avoid heavy work after donating to maintain his health so that he can continue to donate blood regularly.

In addition to participating regularly, he also encourages relatives and friends to donate blood. Mr. Thuy expressed: "As long as you understand correctly, everyone will see that donating blood is the right thing to do. Donating blood is also a way for me to check my health periodically. If I detect any illness, the center will notify me at home, so everyone can rest assured." His silent example is adding faith and motivation to the community in the spirit of "A drop of blood given, a life saved".

The stories of these characters are living proof of the spirit of “A drop of blood given, a life saved”. They not only contribute to building a valuable blood reserve but also light the fire of love, inspiring everyone to join hands for the health of the community./.

Hoang Lan - Ngoc Han

Source: https://baolongan.vn/hien-mau-cuu-nguoi-nghia-cu-cao-dep-a196985.html