With the desire to provide a support platform featuring the free connection of blood donation/receipt activities through a smart app, spread the charitable spirit to the community and contribute to the city's digital transformation as well, JCI Da Nang, belonging to the World Federation of Young Leaders and Entrepreneurs in Viet Nam, has implemented a non-profit community project called "VietBlood".

VietBlood app connects blood donors / recipients in a quick yet effective manner. Photo: VAN HOANG

According to Mr. Pham Ngoc Thach, the Deputy Director of Communication and Marketing of VietBlood project, in fact, those in desperate need of blood in emergency cases often contact with volunteer teams and groups and make calls for support on online social platforms. However, difficulties in connection, time, location and the cost of blood testing greatly affect blood donation and receipt.

On the other hand, some existing related applications only support blood donation registration, without the search feature that helps connect donors with recipients. Meanwhile, the need to receive blood in society is very high.

Fully aware of that fact, the JCI Da Nang team built the VietBlood app to provide a support platform to connect people who want to donate blood and those who are in need, especially providing information on rare blood type and platelets. Through that, JCT wants to spread the spirit of blood donation and publicise the benefits and meaning of this humanitarian activity to the whole community.

Deputy Director in charge of project technology Dinh Van Hieu said that to register to receive and donate blood through the VietBlood app, users only need to download the application available on their smartphone, register an account with phone numbers or gmail and provide some basic personal information.

Successfully-registered accounts will be issued with a QR code that integrates personal information, facilitating sharing activities. When registering to donate blood or creating a request to receive blood, the system will automatically display a suitable list for users to conveniently search, contact and connect with others. Here, blood donors and recipients will exchange, text and call directly on the application.

In addition, the application also supports users to monitor the blood donation process by updating the status, adding database information, helping the system screen for suitable blood donation conditions.

Also, information about medical facilities, blood donation centres and related campaigns taking place in the city are announced on the app.

According to Mr. Nguyen Binh Phuong, the VietBlood project’s Director, in order to build a large user database, spread strongly in the community and create sustainable solutions, in the coming time, the project will connect with other associations and mass organisations such as the Da Nang Youth Union, the municipal Red Cross Society and blood donation clubs, in conjunction with the hospitals in the city to jointly organise the monthly blood donation fairs. This plan is expected to help improve and update more features to suit the needs of users on the app, and at the same time building more web-app platform.

The project eyes to attract 100,000 users by the end of 2023 so as to create a large "online blood bank" in Viet Nam, connecting with the system of hospitals across the country in order to create the most convenient conditions for blood donors and and recipients as well, promote the publicity of the app to patients across the country through online and offline activities throughout the year.

“In order to maintain and operate the project for a long time, we are in need of  cooperation and supportive activities from the community and the city’s government. In the future, we wish to accompany and transfer the application to units and authorities to reduce the pressure of medical establishments, aiming to build a blood bank with an available number of volunteers willing to donate blood and blood products.”, said Phuong shared.

Reporting by VAN HOANG - Translating by A.THU