Today, Facebook has partnered with the Rwanda Biomedical Centre to launch a blood donations feature. This feature will help to connect blood donation centres in Rwanda to blood donors across the country.
The feature which aims to encourage people to donate blood will enable anyone in Rwanda between 18-60 years old to sign up as a blood donor on Facebook to receive notifications from blood donor centers that are in need of blood, the feature also allows blood donors to invite their friends and family to donate blood.
The launch of this initiative comes at a critical time where there’s need to ensure an adequate and safe blood supply in Rwanda. The COVID-19 pandemic has caused blood shortages around the world as blood drives have been cancelled and physical distancing measures have kept people at home. Voluntary blood donation remains an essential activity and it’s more important than ever that people know when, where and how to give blood and that Rwanda has a safe and reliable blood supply.
The Blood Donations feature on Facebook consists of three key components:
•Option to sign up as a blood donor — Facebook users who opt in have the option to indicate their willingness to donate blood in the Facebook app.
•Blood banks inspire donors – Trusted blood donation centers working with Rwanda Biomedical Centre who need to find donors can create special page posts that inform donors what they need and include a call to action button that allows donors to contact them directly from the post.
•Donor notification — Once a blood donor request is posted, people located nearby who have indicated their willingness to donate blood will be notified of the request through their Facebook notifications. Notified donors will be able to review a given request and contact the requestor if they wish to respond to it.
The Director General of Rwanda Biomedical Centre Dr Sabin Nsanzimana expressed enthusiasm for their partnership with Facebook and the blood donation culture that the initiative will promote in Rwanda. “We are very delighted to have Facebook as our partner to help educate Rwandans on the blood donation requirements as well as donating locations. This will help drive crucial donations during this difficult time when many blood banks have extremely low stocks given the COVID-19 outbreak and with people staying at home,” he said.
Commenting on the launch, Facebook’s Head of Public Policy for East & Horn of Africa Mercy Ndegwa said, “We are excited as Facebook to be working with the Rwanda Biomedical Centre and other partners to help address the blood needs of the country. Facebook is committed to building safe and supportive communities which is why we’ve launched this feature in collaboration with the Rwanda Biomedical Centre to serve the needs of the Rwanda blood donation ecosystem.”
Commenting on this partnership, The Division Manager of Blood Transfusion Division (BTD) Dr Gatare Swaibu said the timeliness of this partnership cannot be understated and the Rwanda Blood Transfusion Division is in full support of the launch.
Since the launch of Facebook’s blood donation tool in 2017, more than 70 million people have signed up to be blood donors on Facebook. The feature is currently available in the US, India, Pakistan, Brazil, South Africa, Kenya, Egypt, Senegal, Côte d’Ivoire, Burkina Faso, Bangladesh, Taiwan, Mexico, Niger, England, Wales, Northern Ireland, Zimbabwe.
How It Works
People between the ages of 18 – 60 in Rwanda can sign up to be a blood donor on Facebook by going to Blood Donations in the About section of their profile through this link: facebook.com/donateblood. Here is Rwanda Blood Transfusion.