2010-10-29 16:50

Chinese Health Minister Chen Zhu participates in a blood donation in Beijing on Friday. [Photo/Xinhua]

BEIJING - Chinese Health Minister Chen Zhu donated blood on Friday in Beijing and called on health workers to take the lead in blood donation, in a move to ease the country's blood supply shortage.

Nearly 500 people from the ministry and some hospitals in Beijing also joined Chen in donating blood.

Blood shortages are being seen in some cities and provinces such as Beijing, Shandong, Shanxi, Jiangxi and Yunnan.