A new app has been created by some Ghanaian youths to help improve the donation and distribution of blood across the country.
The Wala health app was developed in partnership with the national blood service, which aims at saving lives through access and delivery of blood during emergencies.
Co-founder of the health app Dr. Dennis Addo explained how the app will be rolled out and who it will improve health delivery in the country.
“Over the year, there has always been a talk of the shortage of blood and people dying in the hospitals because there is no blood, so we thought we should change the narrative, and the way is to use technology to bridge the gap. The app will empower people to donate more blood. We will send information to people in real time on where a blood donation is taking place. Eventually we want to make the whole blood donation paperless. We also want to create a marketplace where all the hospitals in Ghana are connected. So when you need blood you go on to the app and requested and it will be delivered to you.”
Secondly people have myths and bad information about blood donation, they think if you donate you will die, so we have placed lots of information where users of the app can read and educate themselves about blood. And if you are a donor already you can go and ask that your blood be given to you.”
The CEO of the national blood bank, Justina Ansah who was present at the event, bemoaned the low level of voluntary blood donations.
According to her this has put the country in an uncomfortable position to acquire the needed units of blood every year to serve various health centers.
Justina Ansah described the launch of the app as timely and says it will enable the public get information concerning blood in order for them to donate more.
The Minister of Communications, Ursula Owusu-Ekuful also tasked Ghanaian youth to develop an interest in creating mobile applications to address the various social and national issues in the country.
According to her patronizing foreign-made apps which don’t address specific challenges in the country will not enure to the long-term benefit of Ghanaians.
She, therefore, pledged the support of her outfit for young entrepreneurs who take up the initiative of creating such useful apps.
–
By: Ann-Shirley Ziwu/citinewsroom.com/Ghana