Blood donors give gift of life in Hohhot

A blood donation event was organized in Hohhot on June 14 to mark World Blood Donor Day, with local residents encouraged to volunteer to donate blood to assist local residents with health problems.

The event was organized by Inner Mongolia Red Cross, Inner Mongolia Blood Center, and Hohhot health and family planning commission.

“A recent study revealed that donating blood helps to refresh blood in one’s body. It can also reduce the risk of getting cardiovascular and coronary heart diseases to some degree,” according to Wang Zhanguo, deputy director of Inner Mongolia Health and Family Planning Commission.

Blood can’t be manufactured with current medical technology. There is no substitute to replace blood, and therefore hospitals have to rely on donors for fresh supplies.

Every year on June 14, countries around the world celebrate World Blood Donor Day (WBDD). The event, established in 2004, serves to raise awareness of the need for safe blood and blood products, and to thank blood donors for their donations.

World Blood Donor Day is one of eight official global public health campaigns marked by the World Health Organization (WHO), along with World Health Day, World Tuberculosis Day, World Immunization Week, World Malaria Day, World No Tobacco Day, World Hepatitis Day, and World AIDS Day.

A resident (L) donates blood in Hohhot, Inner Mongolia autonomous region on June 14. [Photo/people.cn]

Donors receive certificates in Hohhot, Inner Mongolia autonomous region on June 14. [Photo/people.cn]

Dong Zhuhui shows the 24 certificates he has received over the years from donating blood, in Hohhot, Inner Mongolia autonomous region on June 14. [Photo/people.cn]

Local residents fill in the application forms to donate blood in Hohhot, Inner Mongolia autonomous region on June 14. [Photo/people.cn]

Nurses check blood samples in Hohhot, Inner Mongolia autonomous region on June 14. [Photo/people.cn]