Blood banks are leveraging Facebook to fulfill their blood requirements from 40 million donors

• The Covid-19 pandemic has created a shortage of blood in blood banks across India, affecting thalassemia patients amongst others.
• To overcome this, blood banks can now use social media to connect with blood donors on Facebook and Twitter.
• The Indian Red Cross has also set up dedicated helplines to connect blood donors with those who need blood.

Blood banks across the country have started leveraging Facebook to fulfill their blood requirements during the Covid-19 pandemic. Facebook currently has over 40 million registered blood donors on its platform.

Social distancing requirements and lockdown have made it difficult for voluntary donors to donate blood during these times. Administrations in Maharashtra, Karnataka and Delhi have reported a shortage of blood during the lockdown.

Some of the people worst hit by the lockdown are thalassemia patients who need blood transfusion every two weeks. Thalassemia patients inherit a blood disorder at birth, which leads to a severe shortage of hemoglobin. Due to this, patients feel weak and blood transfusions are their lifeline.

How are blood banks using social media during the lockdown?

Facebook has a blood donation tool that can be used by blood donors as well as recipients. Facebook connects the donors with recipients based on the location and the blood type.

On its part, Facebook has reached out to blood banks across the country to connect them with the donors registered on its platform.

In Mumbai, the social media company collaborated with Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) to onboard blood banks on its blood donation tool.

It also worked with the Gujarat State Council for Blood Transfusion to virtually train blood banks across the state. As a result, Navkar Charitable Trust, one of the participants, received 110 units of blood in three days.

How to donate blood during lockdown?

Using the Facebook blood donation tool

Using the Facebook blood donation tool is easy.

• If you want to donate blood, go to this page and sign up.
• If you want to find blood donors, go to this page and enter details like location, blood group and your phone number.

Using Twitter

While Twitter does not seem to have a dedicated blood donation tool like Facebook, there are groups like @BloodDonorsIn that connect blood donors with those in need of blood.

To donate or request blood, simply tweet to @BloodDonorsIn and they will get back to you with the required details.

Via the Indian Red Cross

Indian Red Cross has set up helplines for blood donors and those who need blood.

All you have to do is call on these 24x7 helpline numbers and mention your requirement – 011-23359379, 93199 82104, 93199 82105.

See also:

969 units of blood donated in Mizoram during lockdown

As COVID-19 interrupts blood donation, govt issues guidelines for safe blood collection

Tamil Nadu government asks hospitals to use Facebook’s blood donation feature