On the Importance of Blood Donation

According to World Health Organization estimates, a country’s basic requirements for safe blood could be met if one percent of that nation’s population donated blood. The WHO reports that 65 percent of all blood donations are made in developed countries, home to just 25 percent of the world’s population, and in some regions access to safe blood is limited. By ensuring that individuals have an understanding of the blood donation process and the importance of donating, it may be possible to ensure that blood supplies are available able to meet the need.

Blood donation has advanced significantly since the first blood transfusion involving a human being was performed in 1667, however the need remains. A reported one in seven people entering a hospital needs blood, and just one pint of blood – the amount obtained during a standard donation procedure – can save up to three lives. Each year, nearly 5 million people in the United States receive life-saving blood transfusions. During surgery, following an accident, or due to a disease or medical condition, individuals may require whole blood or blood components. Whole blood is the most common type of blood donation, during which approximately a pint of blood is given and the blood is then separated into its components. Both platelets and plasma are collected using a process called apheresis, during which the donor is hooked up to a machine that collects the desired blood component and then returns the rest of the blood to the donor. A double red blood cell donation in which only the red blood cells are collected also utilizes apheresis.

In order to be eligible to donate blood an individual must be in good health, at least 17 years old, at least 110 pounds, and able to pass the physical and health history assessment. In addition, before accepting the full donation, the level of iron is tested in a small sample of blood. All donated blood and blood components are subjected to a number of tests to ensure that they are free of bloodborne diseases such as hepatitis, HIV, and syphilis. Blood is also tested to determine the blood type (A, B, AB, or O) and Rh factor (either positive or negative) to ensure that it will be provided to compatible donors. Anyone in need of blood can receive type O red blood cells, and individuals with type AB blood can receive any blood type – thus individuals with type O blood are called “universal donors” and those with type AB blood are “universal recipients.”

Despite the need to maintain an adequate blood supply and the simplicity and safety of the blood donation process, reports indicate that younger individuals say they are “too busy” or “too scared” to give blood, and one in five donors under 30 have stopped donating. An estimated 38 percent of the U.S. population is eligible to donate blood, less than 10 percent donate annually.

Though blood components can be stored – red blood cells for 42 hours refrigerated or up to 10 years frozen, platelets at room temperature for five days, and plasma for up to a year frozen – researchers continue to work to develop a viable synthetic alternative to donated blood. By encouraging people to donate blood and working to find a synthetic blood alternative, it may be possible to ensure that the available blood supply meets the need.

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Using SMS for Healthcare

Over 4.1 billion cell phones are in use globally, and they are quickly becoming a part of the “digital life” for many.Reports indicate that individuals worldwide now use Internet-based and mobile technologies to find health-related information more frequently than ever before. Although cell phones are more common than computers in some areas of sub-Saharan Africa, it is important to note that they are frequently low-cost models with less features as opposed to high-tech smartphones, so mobile web-based information and applications may not be available.



As a means of delivering health-related information in remote areas, many clinics and organizations have begun to utilize short message service (SMS) technology. SMS or “texting” is a mature technology that is supported worldwide on all cellular network operators, through which messages of up to 160 characters can be delivered to a user’s cell phone. In regions where “personal computer technology” may not be available, it is possible to better ensure the delivery of health-related information through the use of basic cell phones and SMS technology. Over the past few years, SMS-based systems have been put in place throughout the developing world to combat diseases like malaria, provide medical and health information, and support rescue and relief efforts following natural disasters.

In regions where malaria is prevalent, SMS systems, such as the “SMS for Life” program currently in use in Africa, have been implemented to deliver information about the availability of treatment and medications. This program allows the inventory of anti-malarial medications at healthcare facilities throughout Africa, particularly in remote areas, to be tracked by clinics and aid organizations to improve distribution rates. Similar programs which allow physicians to monitor their patients at a distance have been put into practice for other diseases, including a program to ensure the provision of quality care to patients with HIV/AIDS in Kenya. This type of patient-monitoring SMS program has also been instituted to allow healthcare workers in Rwanda to monitor pregnant patients remotely, provide basic health and well-being information to patients throughout Africa, and provide clinic location information to patients in India.

SMS systems have also been established following natural disasters, such as the earthquake that struck Haiti on January 12, 2010. A number of relief organizations set up SMS shortcodes, which assisted individuals searching for friends and family members. Shortcodes are set numbers – usually only five digits long - used to quickly and easily gather messages for delivery. Additionally, SMS messaging and shortcodes allowed for a simplified donation process to a number of aid organizations providing assistance in Haiti.

Although mobile applications, smartphones, and other cutting edge technologies have provided enormous advancements in healthcare, high-tech solutions are not always appropriate for worldwide use. In settings where reliable Internet connectivity may not be available and where basic cell phones are the norm, SMS-based systems allow for the distribution of health-related information to a wider audience.

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