Gabon blood donors: New app helps with fast blood transfusions
Visit our website:
http://www.france24.com
Like us on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/FRANCE24.English
Follow us on Twitter:
https://twitter.com/France24_en
Category
🗞
NewsTranscript
00:00 Nchina is a free app created by Alvin to build up a community of volunteer blood donors in Gabon.
00:06 Nchina, which means blood, is a name derived from the local Omenye language,
00:11 which was a brainchild of the developers who had a personal interest.
00:16 Nchina was born from a place of helplessness that hit my family when we needed blood donors urgently
00:22 to save a relative's life, and we were waiting for a blood transfusion.
00:28 In order to set up this app, Alvin got financial support worth 10 million francs CFA,
00:34 a little over 15,000 euros.
00:37 The money came from a foundation created by Nigerian billionaire Tony Elumelu.
00:42 One year after its launch, Nchina now has 4,000 subscribers.
00:48 What I find really great is how quick it is,
00:51 because usually when I come to donate blood, I've noticed that some people are desperate.
00:56 They don't know where to go to find blood donors, but with this app, it's basically instant.
01:01 According to the World Health Organization, every two seconds someone in the world needs a blood transfusion.
01:11 In Gabon, the National Center for Blood Transfusion registers at least 200 donors each day.
01:17 Though these numbers are encouraging, demand is much higher than supply.
01:24 Using social media is also a way of connecting with people,
01:28 a way of bringing them into the blood bank.
01:31 We encourage healthy people to become regular donors.
01:35 According to authorities, Gabon's National Blood Transfusion Center receives 40 to 50 donations each day
01:45 and collects up to 25,000 blood bags per year.
01:49 With the help of the app, this number is on the rise.