VietNamNet Bridge – More than 340 litres of blood has been donated to the local Red Cross during a single day.

The International Red Cross and Red Crescent Goodwill Ambassador, Chinese Action Movie Star Jet Li, calls on all young people to help out by donating blood (right), and blood donors at Ha Noi's Hello! Pink Spring event last Saturday. (Photo: VNS)

The event in the capital city was just one of many activities held by the health sector to promote blood donation with the aim of easing the shortage of blood at hospitals during the Tet (lunar New Year) period.

Attending the event in Ha Noi, the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Goodwill Ambassador, Chinese Movie Star Jet Li called on young people to join in the humanitarian cause and help out less fortunate people at hospitals who may need life-saving blood transfusions.

"All volunteers are part of a global family that is willing to help each other," said Li.

Chairman of the VNRC Tran Ngoc Tang said the amount of blood collected on the day met 40 per cent of demand from hospitals across the nation.

"We call on all people to donate blood as a special gift for unlucky people on the occasion of the lunar new year," said Tang.

The VNRC's Head of the Humanitarian Blood Donation Department Nguyen Duc Thuan said 2,700 people had registered to donate blood at the event, of which about 500 donated blood on the occasion of their birthday or a relative's birthday.

The VNRC awarded 40 volunteers with outstanding contributions in the campaign to promote blood donation.

Representatives from the health sector said hospitals suffer acute shortages of blood during periods such as Tet or the summer when blood donors, mostly students, are busy with examinations or away on vacation.

Since December, the amount of blood donated has fallen by 40 per cent when compared with previous months.

The National Institute of Haematology and Blood Transfusion said its blood bank needed between 12,000 – 15,000 units of blood to supply to hospitals in 12 northern provinces and cities during Tet.