Ba Ria – Vung Tau (VNA) – About 934 units of blood were collected during a blood donation event heldin the southern province of Ba Ria – Vung Tau on July 9.

As part of the Red Journey - a nationwide annual blood donation drive lastinguntil July 31, the event aimed to raisepublic awareness of blood donation as well as thalassaemia while addressing theblood shortage during holidays. 

A similar event was held in Ho Chi Minh City onJuly 7, attracting 1,500 people and receiving over 1,700 units of blood

To date, the Red Journey 2017 has collected about5,000 blood units donated in localities it has gone through, including Ca Mau,Kien Giang, Can Tho, Long An, Ho Chi Minh City and Ba Ria-Vung Tau. The journeywill be continued in Dong Nai province and northern localities.

After four years, the Red Journey has come to 37provinces and cities across the country and received over 150,000 blood units,contributing to saving lives of hundreds of patients.

This year’s one-month campaign expects tocollect at least 35,000 units of blood from 40,000 donors.

It will also provide consultations on voluntaryblood donation and Thalassemia for 50,000 people and present 1,000 gift packagesto disadvantaged patients.

More than 5 million people in Vietnam sufferfrom Thalassemia, with 20,000 patients receiving treatment and over 2,000children born with the disease.-VNA