The event, in response to World Blood Donor Day (June 14) and the 2013 world’s blood donation campaign themed ‘Every Blood Donation is a Gift of Life’, aims to raise public awareness of donating blood to save the lives of millions in need.
Of the honoured donors, 13 have donated blood 41-51 times and 98 have not only donated their blood but also encouraged many others to do the same.
More than 900,000 units of blood were collected across the country in 2012, which met 50% of the demand for emergency aid and treatment. Nearly 88% of the blood came from voluntary donors.
The country has set a target to collect more than a million blood units and mobilise 1.15% of the population to donate blood in 2013, according to the Chairman of the Vietnam Red Cross and Deputy Head of the National Steering Committee of Voluntary Blood Donation, Nguyen Hai Duong.
A number of blood drives and activities to honour blood donors and promote blood donation were also held around the country on the same day.
