Now, trace blood donors on a tap

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, May 26

Punjab Health and Family Welfare Minister Surjit Kumar Jyani today launched “iRakt” — a mobile app that will prove beneficial for finding blood donors and blood banks in Ludhiana district.

With the help of this mobile app any person would be able to locate and contact the donor of a particular blood group in the district.

Jyani said: “In this fast changing world, technology is a key now and such mobile applications help people in a big way.” He said earlier people faced several difficulties in locating a donor, but with the launch of “iRakt”, this issue would be resolved. He urged people to use the app as it could help in saving precious lives.

Deputy Commissioner Ravi Bhagat said: “Android users can download this mobile app for free from Google Play Store and within a week it will be available on IOS for Iphone users as well.” He said after downloading the app, the user has to register and submit details such as name, age, phone number, blood group, besides other things.

Once a person has registered himself, other “iRakt” app users will be able to locate him by using the same app.

The DC said as this app was location-based, it would automatically search for the nearby donors registered with “iRakt” and there would also be an option for contacting them by either calling them or sending an SMS.

This app has been designed and developed by a team led by Mandeep Singh and Manpreet Singh from eQuasar. The official website of Red Cross Society (www.redcrossludhiana.com) was also launched on the occasion. The Deputy Commissioner urged residents of Ludhiana district to use this app in large numbers so that precious lives could be saved.

On being asked if banning liquor in the state on the lines of Bihar would prove beneficial, the Health Minister said, “Banning liquor in one state will not produce any desired result. It should be banned across the country, as people of one state can buy it from neighboring states.”

On the controversy regarding bread being considered cancerous, Jayani said the Health Department had directed the health teams in all districts to collect bread samples after which appropriate action would be taken.

Reacting to blood banks of private hospitals charging at their own will, he said they would be constituting a regulatory committee for blood banks which would be looking towards this issue.