Vietnam Airlines Helps Secure Blood Supply for 74 Hospitals in the Mekong Delta Region

From March 2023 to June 6, 2023, the National Institute of Hematology and Blood Transfusion (NIHBT), Ho Chi Minh City Blood Transfusion and Hematology Hospital, and the Blood Transfusion Center of Cho Ray Hospital collaborated to provide 20,205 units of packed red blood cells to the Can Tho Hematology and Blood Transfusion Hospital.

This initiative was intended to support the hospital amid procurement difficulties involving blood bags, chemicals, and medical supplies necessary for collecting, screening, and distributing blood products. However, with a monthly demand of 12,000–15,000 blood units, this supply met only around 60% of the urgent and treatment needs across 74 hospitals in 11 provinces of the Mekong Delta—an issue significantly impacting regional healthcare.

To ensure a stable blood supply for patients, the National Blood Center and NIHBT coordinated with the Can Tho Hematology and Blood Transfusion Hospital and the Voluntary Blood Donation Steering Committees of southern provinces to create plans for blood collection and to transfer blood bags, materials, and chemicals from Hanoi to Can Tho. This support helped sustain blood donation activities and facilitated the successful organization of the Red Journey 2023 campaign in the region.

On the morning of June 5, 2023, the nationwide launch of the 11th Red Journey Blood Donation Campaign took place in Bac Lieu province, where 1,000 blood units were collected. All the necessary blood bags and materials were sent from Hanoi by NIHBT. NIHBT staff also coordinated on-site with the Can Tho hospital to ensure efficient collection. The collected blood was then flown to Hanoi for screening and processing into safe blood products before being redistributed back to the Southwestern region.

NIHBT has supplied blood to Can Tho on multiple occasions, including during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic and in early 2023 when the city faced procurement issues.

The transport of these 1,000 blood units (weighing over 800 kg) was handled safely, efficiently, and in full compliance with regulations, thanks to the free transport support provided by Vietnam Airlines, its Can Tho branch, and Can Tho International Airport. Vietnam Airlines is expected to continue facilitating future blood transport missions from the Red Journey campaign in the Southwest.

All 1,000 units collected in Bac Lieu on June 5 were transported to Hanoi the same evening with the assistance of Vietnam Airlines.

Over its 28-year history, Vietnam Airlines has remained committed to community service, especially in the healthcare sector. The airline has supported humanitarian initiatives such as Facing The World, Operation Smile, and Heartbeat Vietnam, as well as assisted the National Center for Organ Transplant Coordination in transporting organs and tissues.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Ha Thanh, Director of NIHBT, presented the Red Journey commemorative symbol to Mr. Dang Minh Viet, Head of Vietnam Airlines’ Can Tho Branch, in recognition of the airline’s contribution to the blood transport efforts of the Red Journey.

By supporting the blood transportation efforts requested by the Can Tho Hematology and Blood Transfusion Hospital, Vietnam Airlines reinforces its reputation as a socially responsible aviation group, spreading positive and meaningful values throughout the community.