Online platform bridging gap between patients, blood donors

Amid a rise in dengue cases in Delhi and some other parts of the country, an internet-based platform is helping save human lives by bridging the gap between donors and patients who need blood or platelets.
Dengue patients suffer loss of blood platelets and many a times it proves fatal.
The online platform developed by a Noida-based firm is seeking to bridge this gap by creating a local pool of donors, so that in case of blood requirement, help can arrive quickly.
"The platform, available both on mobile phone and the internet, has a pool of pre-registered donors. Patients looking for donors just have to mention their name, address and contact details. Then, based on his or her location, it alerts all donors within the local circle.

"The patient and the donor can live chat and fix the procedure to do the needful," an official of the firm LocalCircle said.
The company, which began its journey last year in Delhi, has made the internet-based platform available in 100 cities across the country and has a 1,25,000 donors in its network.

"Having a local network means help reaches faster. Otherwise, even if blood or platelet becomes available, either the donor is too far or gets stuck in traffic jam and the assistance reaches the patient when it is too late. This platform bridges that gap," he said.
According to a municipal report, at least 277 cases of dengue have been reported this season in Delhi, with 109 of these being recorded in the first two weeks of August.

In Delhi, the vector-borne disease claimed its first victim on July 21 when a girl from Jafrabad in northeastern part of the national capital died at Lok Nayak Jai Prakash Hospital.
Okhla MLA Amanatullah Khan's sister-in-law succumbed to dengue on August 12 at Apollo Hospital here. Her platelet level had dropped to 11,000 when she was admitted in the hospital.
In Mumabi, last year, there were 442 cases of dengue in which two deaths were reported. This year, 14,203 cases of dengue have come to light and two deaths reported so far.
In West Bengal, 17 people have died of dengue, while the number of people affected by the vector-borne disease has shot up to 3,201 since January. Telangana also has reported a large number of dengue cases this year.

The company has eight national circles themed over various social issue which include - 'Swachh Bharat Circle' (in partnership with Ministry of Urban Development), 'Make Railway Better Circle' (with Railway Ministry'), and 'Corruption-free India Circle' (with global NGO Transparency International), the official said.