Whatsapp groups help patients in need of blood

A silent revolution in blood donation that was started by a group of employees in Dubai and Saudi Arabia has branched out far and wide. Last year in August, a WhatsApp group by the name, ‘Blood Helpline Karnataka’ was opened exclusively for promoting and encouraging blood donation in Dubai. This initiative that started as a social service has now spread to Karnataka as well, with the opening of the 19th group of Blood Helpline Karnataka in Mangaluru. The group has over 4,000 active members who keep in touch with members through their respective groups and spring into action and arrange for blood whenever the need arises. Blood is collected by organizing blood donation camps. The group caters to the needs of hospitals in Karnataka. So much is the dedication towards this service that there have been instances of people coming to their hometown all the way from the Gulf countries with the sole purpose of donating blood. According to Imran Addoor, group admin of one of the groups and a founder member, ever since the group started, it has been successful in collecting 1,370 units of blood through 17 blood donation camps. Initially, the group comprised of members from Dubai and Saudi Arabia, and now it includes people from Bengaluru, Mysuru, Raichur, Hassan, Udupi, Chikkamagaluru, and Dakshina Kannada.   On the first anniversary of the group held on Sunday, a blood donation camp was held in Mangalore city where 130 donors participated. Imran said that members are connected not only through Whatsapp, but also through its website www.bloodhelplinekarnataka.com and through Facebook.