Today is World Blood Donor Day 2018. This year the event is hosted by Greece, with the theme ‘Blood Connects us All’. The purpose of the annual event is to thank and acknowledge routine blood donors. Additionally, the event is hosted with the goal of encouraging new donors, especially by representing how blood donations have saved and changed lives.
There are various ways in which GIS has contributed to saving lives through blood donation applications. Aside from blood donor applications, there are plenty of GIS-based applications that focus on other forms of donation.
Now, let's take a look at how GIS is assisting us in making the world a better place!
Donor Tracker
Donor Tracker is described as an "independent, free application that seeks to advance global development by providing development professionals with easy access to quantitative and qualitative information to support strategic advocacy."
The application is funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, and it's possibilities are nearly endless!
If interested, here is an in-depth paper on how Donor Tracker has been utilized within the realm of blood donation: Donor Tracker: An Innovative Real-Time Tracking System for Blood Donors in Mauritius.
Direct Relief
Direct Relief, is recognized as a non-profit, non-partisan association that offers medical material aid to those distressed by natural disasters, civil conflict, and poverty.
Throughout the donation process, Direct Relief delivers information to donors visually via digital mapping applications allowing donors to know precisely where their donations are going.
Some examples of what Direct Relief visualizes for donors:
- Exactly what materials went where/when they were distributed.
- What the overall value of the donation was.
- Why the donation was proper assistance.
- Accommodations and population profiles in the donation vicinity.
- Patient health necessities and demographics.
This data is crucial in order for patrons to see the significance of their donations to Direct Relief. This is a great example of how GIS serves in fostering stronger relationships/trust between donors and recipients.
Whether you choose to donate to one of these organizations, or another cause you are passionate about, we encourage you take a moment to make today to make the world a better place.
