Blood donation truly saves lives, yet not everyone is aware and encouraged enough to donate. With blood donation rates in decline all over the developed world.
70 countries report collecting fewer than 10 donations per 1000 people. Of these, 38 countries are in the WHO African Region, 6 in the Region of the Americas, 6 in the Eastern Mediterranean Region, 5 in the European Region, 6 in the South-East Asia Region, and 9 in the Western Pacific Region. All are low- or middle-income countries.
Sweden’s blood service is enlisting new technology to help push back against shortages.
One new initiative, where donors are sent automatic text messages telling them when their blood has actually been used, has caught the public eye. People who donate initially receive a ‘thank you’ text when they give blood, but they get another message when their blood makes it into somebody else’s veins.
The usual visit to a blood donation center goes something like this: you enter a sterile room, ease into a seat or lie down and have your blood drawn. Besides a handful of free cookies, you leave with nothing more than the noble sense of being a good citizen, and your part of the transaction is complete.
In Sweden, however, a simple text message is moving blood donation from an activity of the generous to a social media-worthy event. The highly positive side of this initiative is that it has spread the talk about blood donation and has motivated people to donate by making them understand how important their contribution is.
The programme was started in Stockholm seven years ago but has gradually rolled out by other local areas across the country after a positive reception. In Stockholm, residents can also go to the local blood service’s website and see a live chart of how much blood is left and whether a donation is needed.
Sources: Independent, World Health Organization, TIME
