It was a saturday morning (23rd Feb,2008) that Sankalp Volunteers decided to visit govenment hospitals(Blood Banks) to spread awareness about a revolutionary blood helpline number (080)1062.It was the D-day of the week long preparation by the volunteers. Bangalore was about to witness a new paradigm shift in the way people search for blood.
The stage 0 of hospital visit included 8 government hospitals. The visit included 3 major tasks to be fulfilled:
1. Permission to put up posters and stickers related to CTC Disha, at various places where people can see and know the helpline number.
2. Permission to talk to the staff members which included doctors, nurses, attendants, security guards, shopkeepers , anyone who can redirect the needy to this helpline number.
3. Circulation of the permission letter which contained a brief description on CTC Disha on the notice boards on various departments.
4. [Optional] Request the hospital to associate with CTC Disha by providing statistics, so that the availability information is accessible to the masses.
The reason being that people from rural areas and not well to do visit these hospitals. They are not aware of the blood situation in Bangalore . They either fall prey to brokers or spend too much time searching for blood when it is critical.
The visit has been a phenomenal success with most of the hospitals co-operating with the revolutionary idea. Two hospitals have agreed to share blood statistics- Victoria Hospital and Indira Gandhi Institute of Child Health.
What is CTC Disha?
CTC Disha is a joint initiative of Comprehensive Trauma Consortium and Sankalp India Foundation® to connect the blood banks in Bangalore and make blood availability information available to all via a single helpline number (080)1062.
Inaugurated by the Governor of Karnataka on 13th September, 2006, this helpline has been providing continual assistance to people searching for blood. Today we are connected to nine(shortly will include 2 more) blood banks in the city which provide us statistics on a regular basis.
CTC calls the blood banks daily and updates the blood information in the city for the day. A person enquiring for blood is provided the blood bank's name, number of units available, the address and the contact number. He is also requested to enquire the blood bank before proceeding to ensure that the blood is available.
CTC Disha offers you a search option for blood search in Bangalore. This is essential for easy and efficient blood search in time critical situation. Similar to googling out information from the internet, masses have the option of (080)1062ing out blood they require in Bangalore.
Why Disha Publicity?
Bangalore requires blood every 2 minutes. The expectancy of calls to CTC Disha estimates to 600 calls/day, but no. of calls average to 4-5 calls per day. Hence the need for CTC Disha publicity.
Highlight of the event:
Out of the blue, a volunteer had proposed approaching BMTC to publicize 1062 as a blood helpline. On 22nd Feb, 2008(Friday), Sankalp volunteers visited the BMTC office on double road, after the initial interaction with the MD of BMTC.
The visit has been successful. The final draft of the proposal will be sent to BMTC in coming days. If it works, it will mean that around 5000 BMTC buses plying around Bangalore will publicize CTC Disha!
How can you participate?
We want to make Disha a phenomenon in Blood banking system. You can participate by:
1. Spreading this helpline number, storing it.
2. People who mail can send “Need blood in Bangalore. Call (080)1062” as their signature, you can even put it as your status message during a chat.
3. Putting up Disha posters/stickers at your door,vehicles etc.
4. Actively participating on Disha Publicity forums, suggesting improvements, initiatives.
5. Funding for the cost of stickers, posters involved in the campaign.
Someday, someone will require blood. It will be you who will be saying-Call 1062. Your simple forwarding of this life saving number can make a difference in someone's life.
What's Next?
The stage 0 of hospital visit included 8 government hospitals. The visit included 3 major tasks to be fulfilled:
1. Permission to put up posters and stickers related to CTC Disha, at various places where people can see and know the helpline number.
2. Permission to talk to the staff members which included doctors, nurses, attendants, security guards, shopkeepers , anyone who can redirect the needy to this helpline number.
3. Circulation of the permission letter which contained a brief description on CTC Disha on the notice boards on various departments.
4. [Optional] Request the hospital to associate with CTC Disha by providing statistics, so that the availability information is accessible to the masses.
The reason being that people from rural areas and not well to do visit these hospitals. They are not aware of the blood situation in Bangalore . They either fall prey to brokers or spend too much time searching for blood when it is critical.
The visit has been a phenomenal success with most of the hospitals co-operating with the revolutionary idea. Two hospitals have agreed to share blood statistics- Victoria Hospital and Indira Gandhi Institute of Child Health.
What is CTC Disha?
CTC Disha is a joint initiative of Comprehensive Trauma Consortium and Sankalp India Foundation® to connect the blood banks in Bangalore and make blood availability information available to all via a single helpline number (080)1062.
Inaugurated by the Governor of Karnataka on 13th September, 2006, this helpline has been providing continual assistance to people searching for blood. Today we are connected to nine(shortly will include 2 more) blood banks in the city which provide us statistics on a regular basis.
CTC calls the blood banks daily and updates the blood information in the city for the day. A person enquiring for blood is provided the blood bank's name, number of units available, the address and the contact number. He is also requested to enquire the blood bank before proceeding to ensure that the blood is available.
CTC Disha offers you a search option for blood search in Bangalore. This is essential for easy and efficient blood search in time critical situation. Similar to googling out information from the internet, masses have the option of (080)1062ing out blood they require in Bangalore.
Why Disha Publicity?
Bangalore requires blood every 2 minutes. The expectancy of calls to CTC Disha estimates to 600 calls/day, but no. of calls average to 4-5 calls per day. Hence the need for CTC Disha publicity.
Highlight of the event:
Out of the blue, a volunteer had proposed approaching BMTC to publicize 1062 as a blood helpline. On 22nd Feb, 2008(Friday), Sankalp volunteers visited the BMTC office on double road, after the initial interaction with the MD of BMTC.
The visit has been successful. The final draft of the proposal will be sent to BMTC in coming days. If it works, it will mean that around 5000 BMTC buses plying around Bangalore will publicize CTC Disha!
How can you participate?
We want to make Disha a phenomenon in Blood banking system. You can participate by:
1. Spreading this helpline number, storing it.
2. People who mail can send “Need blood in Bangalore. Call (080)1062” as their signature, you can even put it as your status message during a chat.
3. Putting up Disha posters/stickers at your door,vehicles etc.
4. Actively participating on Disha Publicity forums, suggesting improvements, initiatives.
5. Funding for the cost of stickers, posters involved in the campaign.
Someday, someone will require blood. It will be you who will be saying-Call 1062. Your simple forwarding of this life saving number can make a difference in someone's life.
What's Next?
More Hospitals in coming days. The future of publicity will include partnering with media like – Radio, newspapers, TV. We want thisrevolutionary idea to be known to all!
More about it in coming days.
Jai Hind
More about it in coming days.
Jai Hind