The Indonesian community and diplomats in Ho Chi Minh City launched a charity blood drive yesterday and collected 88.5 units of blood, or 22 liters of blood.
 |
| Officers and diplomats of Indonesia Consulate General in Ho Chi Minh join the blood donation |
The Consul general of Greece, Napoleon Paterakis, and consul general of the Netherlands, Jos Schellaars, also took part in the charitable event.
The blood drive is a regular activity of the Indonesian consulate and the Indonesian community in Vietnam, and aims to offer a responsible contribution to their work place. It is also to respond to the annual blood donation festival in Vietnam.
Vice President Nguyen Thi Doan launched the yearly event named Red Spring festival 2012 at Hanoi’s My Dinh National Stadium on February 12.
Addressing the event, Health Minister Nguyen Thi Kim Tien highlighted the initiative of the National Institute of Haematology and Blood Transfusion, the Hanoi Steering Committee of Voluntary Blood Donation and the Hanoi Youth Blood Donation Mobilization Association to organize such an event.
The festival has become a major festival that received warm response from locals and expats living and working in the nation, the minister said.
She spoke highly of individuals who share their blood to save more patients.
This year’s festival is expected to attract 25,000 people and collect around 6,000 units of blood.
