Mobile application for blood appeals
Date
2014
Authors
Ishema, Natacha
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Strathmore University
Abstract
The Kenya National Blood Transfusion Service (KNBTS) is in charge of blood collection and blood transfusion in Kenya. Despite the fact that it has six regional branches and satellite branches in the country, the blood collection that they do is not enough to have the required quantity to save lives in case of an emergency.Other organisations like blood link foundation and Wanadamu, a youth non profit organisation, have taken upon themselves to use other means to collect blood by planning campaigns or using social media for blood appeals. These different institutions contact people who might have donated blood before and cannot be eligible to donate blood again. Other potential donors are not even approached due to the lack of joined information.A mobile application was then proposed to enable all these organisations to share information, reward donors, enable donors to receive news, notifications that they can respond to and view maps where blood collection points are being done.The rewarding term in the mobile application is called ‘crowning’, frequent donors will be awarded different crowns that will represent the number of times they have donated in a year.The institution also have a system that can be viewed on a desktop or any other mobile devices (mobile phone or tablet) to enable the administrator to update information very easily from wherever he is. A survey research and a literature survey methodology were both used to find out if the application is viable. The mobile application was tested in Strathmore University using 189 students as a sample.From the results of the testing the mobile application is viable and can be implemented. In conclusion the existing systems were reviewed and implemented in such a way that they fit the local context, the crowning functionality have been added to make the application unique and respondents of the mobile application testing found the idea very unique and good.
Description
Partial fulfillment for award of the degree of Master of Science in Mobile Telecommunications and Innovation at Strathmore University.