A group of youth from Laamu Atoll have introduced a mobile application to assist blood donation.
The mobile application, named "Thiki", was officially launched by Minister of State for Youth, Sports and Community Empowerment Hussain Ismail on December 16. The application aims to bring blood donors and individuals in need of blood to one platform and ease the difficulties faced in acquiring donors. The application also aims to reduce the risk of tragedies caused by delays in acquiring blood.
The application is being introduced in three phases, with the first phase dedicated for people in Laamu, Thaa, Gaafu Alifu and Gaafu Dhaalu Atoll as well as Fuvahmulah and Addu City.
No login is required to use the application, although donors are required to be registered. All registered donors and their blood groups will be visible to the users of the application. However, upon the donation of the blood by a donor through the application, the donor will not be visible under the list of registered donors for 90 days.
Furthermore, the application includes an "Explore" section, which includes information of those seeking blood. Any posts made seeking blood donors will be visible in this section.
There are currently over 600 thalassemia patients across the Maldives. Most of the thalassemia patients are children under the age of 16.