Blood is the fuel of the human engine and can act as a lifesaver for a patient, and that’s why a lot of efforts are put into spreading awareness about blood donation.
An app that facilitates blood donation has been developed. The app named ‘Sath’ was created by a group of young corporate professionals and college students. The app is available on Google Play Store.
A detailed requirement of blood for the patient who is in need of the blood is posted on the timeline of the app and the notification alerts other members about the emergency. Thereafter, arrangements are made accordingly.
This app is currently helping patients in eight district of Maharashtra to get blood in time. The volunteers of Sath are also connected by WhatsApp groups and keep each other updated about blood requirements.
“Blood is life. Many patients lose their lives because they don’t get blood on time. I have seen such instances. That’s why we decided to use advancement of digital media to help people receive blood on time and also to spread awareness about blood donation. I am glad to say that through Sath we have saved over 1,200 lives so far,” informed Akash Rathod, President of Sath and a final year civil engineering student at Ram Meghe Institute of Technology & Research, Badnera-Amravati.
Sath app is currently being used in eight districts in Maharashtra namely- Amravati, Akola, Nagpur, Aurangabad, Beed, Nanded, Wardha and Buldhana. The network of volunteers is actively working to organise blood donation camps in these districts and provide blood to patients through information received through the Sath app. In Mumbai, a network of volunteers is connected through WhatsApp groups.
The app also provides verified contact information of the emergency services such as hospital and ambulance numbers, fire brigade numbers and blood bank numbers in the eight districts mentioned above. The team is now working to update the details of the availability of the blood units of each blood group in every blood bank. “We are trying to update this database so that just by a click a person can know which blood bank has an availability of the blood group the patient requires. I want to request blood banks to help us to update this information. It will facilitate the process of getting blood and will save a lot of time,” said Akash Rathod.
Sath app has proved to be helpful for patients who come from rural areas in government hospitals for the treatment and don’t know whom to contact in when they are in dire need of blood. “If such a situation occurs, we then put an update on the Sath App. One of their volunteers comes and donates blood immediately. Also, in summer there is an acute crisis of blood. Sath is very helpful during this time. Everyone should participate in this selfless service,” said Dr Vipin Khadase who is currently interning at government medical college in Nagpur.
Few blood banks regularly share the availability of blood and other blood components on Sath app. “Because Sath app we receive specific requests for the blood of particular group or blood components. It helps us as well to supply blood in time. Many lives have been saved because of this app,” said Kavita Marolkar who works with Sant Gadgebaba Blood Bank based in Amravati.