The Hindu: Just dial a number for blood

Need blood? Just call 9480044444.

Sankalp India Foundation in association with Comprehensive Trauma Consortium (CTC) on Saturday launched CTC Disha, a State-wide helpline for blood.

This centralised blood stock information network promises to put an end to the painful process of hunting for blood in the time of emergency.

In 2006, the then Governor T.N. Chaturvedi had launched CTC Disha, a helpline for Bangalore. The helpline has networked the most prominent blood banks in Bangalore over the last three years. After proving to be a success in Bangalore, the helpline has now been extended to the entire State.

The State-wide helpline was inaugurated in BGS International Residential School by Adichunchanagiri Math seer Balagangadharanatha Swamiji.

The helpline works by networking safe and quality blood banks. Daily blood stock information is taken from the blood banks. The CTC runs a 24-hour call centre that serves the incoming blood requests.

Any person who is in need of blood can call the helpline. After the caller furnishes details of the patient and the blood requirement, the response centre executives guide him/her to the closest blood bank which has the required blood group. When blood is not available in any of the blood banks the request for blood is forwarded to the emergency team of Sankalp which ensures that safe blood reaches the needy.

The helpline puts up a strong fight to end malpractices by professional donors and black-marketing of blood by directing the needy to standard blood banks which have stocks.