HCMC – The Saigon Times Group will join hands with the HCMC Blood Donation Center to hold the Blood Donation Day 2025 on October 4.
Blood reserves in HCMC are running low as blood donations have dropped in recent times, raising concerns about the city’s ability to meet the demand of patients in need, according to the municipal Department of Health.
In July, blood banks in the city received 25,034 units, while hospitals required 27,607 units for patient treatment. As a result, the city’s blood inventory fell from 9,427 units on July 1 to 6,713 units by the end of the month.
The HCMC Blood Transfusion and Hematology Hospital warned that without an increase in donations in the following months, available blood supplies may only meet 70% to 80% of treatment needs. This shortfall could disrupt medical services at hospitals and health centers across the city.
The Department of Health has urged government agencies, organizations, and residents to actively participate in blood donation drives to maintain a safe and steady supply of blood for patients in need.
To help address the shortage, The Saigon Times Group, in collaboration with the HCMC Blood Donation Center, will organize the Blood Donation Day 2025 on October 4.
The event aims to ease the blood shortage, provide assistance to those in need, raise awareness about social responsibility, and promote community spirit and humanitarianism. It is also part of the Saigon Times Group’s celebrations marking the 30th anniversary of The Saigon Times at english.thesaigontimes.vn (October 2, 1995 – 2025) and the 34th anniversary of The Saigon Times Weekly (October 10, 1991 – 2025).
This year’s blood drive will take place at the Saigon Times Group’s head office, 35 Nam Ky Khoi Nghia Street, Ben Thanh Ward, HCMC (formerly Nguyen Thai Binh Ward, District 1) from 7:30 a.m. to 11:50 a.m.
The Saigon Times Group invites all valued readers, domestic and international businesses, diplomatic agencies and other interested individuals and organizations to join the program and help provide life-saving blood for patients in urgent need.
Readers interested in the Saigon Times Group’s upcoming blood drive should fill out the registration form at: https://forms.gle/EVrEJux4d9MVPcB18
Or contact Ms. Kim Ngan on 093 2626 094, or by email at kimngan@thesaigontimes.vn.
All registrations should be sent in before October 1, 2025.
To ensure safety during the blood donation process, donors should take note of the following information:
1) Register for blood donation if you:
- Are well and not exposed to the risk of transfusion-transmitted infections.
- Meet the requirements for age (18-60), weight (45 kilograms or above), and minimum interval of three months between two blood donations.
- Follow the instructions of health workers and volunteers at the blood donation site.
- Carefully read and fill out the blood donation questionnaire and the health declaration form.
- Blood volume collected per donor: 350 or 450 milliliters.
2) Blood donors should:
- Have a light meal and drink water (300-500ml) before donating blood.
- Consume plenty of food and water for 24 hours after donating blood.
- Lie or sit for 10 minutes after donation.
- Apply gentle pressure to the injection site for 10 minutes with a piece of cotton wool and keep the bandage on the arms for 4-6 hours.
- Lie down with their legs elevated if they feel dizzy, tired or nauseous.
- Cover the injection site with a cold towel or ice if inflammation occurs.
3) They should not:
- Drink milk, alcohol, or beer before donation.
- Drive for a long distance, work hard or do exercises on the blood donation day.
