Tamil Nadu Government bats for Facebook Blood Donation Feature

The Government of Tamil Nadu has directed all blood banks in the state to use Blood Donation Feature on Facebook in an attempt to reach out to voluntary donors.

The Tamil Nadu Government feels social media with its power and reaches to connect people, can help to create awareness and enable voluntary blood donations. The State government has issued a directive to all blood banks and hospitals in the state to use Facebook blood donation feature, in order to bridge the gap between blood donors and nearby blood banks.

Speaking on the National Voluntary Blood Donor Day, Minister for Health and Family Welfare, Tamil Nadu, Dr C. Vijaya Baskar said “One of the biggest reasons for blood shortage is the lack of access and appropriate know-how among potential donors to donate blood. We believe that this feature on Facebook will help us to reach out to donors and encourage them to donate blood. It can also be one of the fastest and seamless ways, to let donors know of critical blood needs in their areas”

All banks have gone through comprehensive training workshops to onboard them on to Facebook Blood Donation feature and have learnt how about how they can connect with donors on the Facebook basis their needs.

Also Read: Facebook set up 2000 blood donation events on the platform

Speaking on the occasion, Manish Chopra, Director and Head of Partnerships, Facebook India said “Our Blood Donation Feature is a great example of how extraordinary opportunities emerge when people and technology connect. In the two years since its launch, over 22 million people in India have registered as blood donors on Facebook. Our partnership with the Govt. of Tamil Nadu is an extension of our commitment to make sure blood banks have access to these donors/blood banks regularly and help create a safe and sustainable supply of blood.”

Launched in 2017, Blood Donation Feature on Facebook connects people willing to donate blood with opportunities nearby. People can sign up as donors on Facebook and get notified when blood banks near post about their blood requirements. It was first launched in India and is now available in Bangladesh, Pakistan, Brazil and in USA with over 50 million people are registered as blood donors on Facebook.