Blood donation: bridging the gap between need and supply

ABSTRACT

We live in the era of social media. Social media is used for maketing daily needs to luxury items and for services essential in all fields of life. It had literally brought world on a click. Even then Social media is minimally used for life saving services like blood donation awareness and supply. Voluntary blood donation is limited to the blood donation camps and for nearest relatives in need. There is generalized lack of knowledge regarding blood donation among people and social media can be a very important source of information in creating awareness about blood donation, particularly among youngsters. In times of need, most patients, their family members and relatives are in stress to find donors. They do this either by directly talking to known people or through other alternatives such as social media. According to WHO, there should be a provision for safe and adequate blood supply in national health care policy and infrastructure of every country. The gap between need and supply needs to be filled up. The COVID-19 pandemic has added on to the already existing shortage of blood donors. This article discusses the motivational factors as well as barriers to blood donation, at the same time analyzing the use of social media for the same.