1,000 Donors in a Day: A Collaborative Blood Donor Recruitment Strategy in North Lampung
Main Article Content
Keywords
Blood Donation, Voluntary Blood Donation, Community Collaboration, Blood Donor Recruitment
Abstract
Background: Ensuring a safe and sustainable blood supply presents a persistent challenge in geographically dispersed regions. This study aimed to describe the collaborative strategies employed by the North Lampung Blood Transfusion Unit (BTU), Indonesian Red Cross (IRC), and the Yayasan Relawan Donor Darah (YRDD) to improve voluntary blood donor mobilization and blood availability, and to evaluate the role of community-based and digital communication approaches within this collaboration.
Methods: A descriptive mixed-methods design was used. Quantitative data were extracted from official BTU IRC North Lampung administrative records covering January 2023 to December 2024, comparing monthly blood collection volumes before (January–August 2023) and after (September 2023–December 2024) initiation of the collaboration. Qualitative data were collected through semi-structured interviews with BTU IRC officers and YRDD coordinators, observational notes from donor recruitment activities, and a review of internal organizational documentation. Thematic analysis was applied to qualitative data, with triangulation conducted across multiple data sources to enhance credibility.
Results: Following the initiation of collaboration in September 2023, both the volume and consistency of blood collection increased markedly. The flagship '1,000 Donors in a Day' event on 16 September 2023 attracted 1,004 presenting donors and yielded 702 blood bags collected in a single day, a record achievement for North Lampung Regency. Over the subsequent 15 months, eight collaborative blood donation events were conducted, collectively yielding 3,082 presenting donors and 2,529 blood bags collected. Key strategies included blood-type-based WhatsApp Groups, social media outreach via Instagram and Facebook, personalized donor reminders, and community-based mobilization through YRDD volunteers. Annual blood collection in 2024 reached approximately 9,899 bags, representing progress toward, but remaining below, the regional safe threshold of approximately 12,000 bags per year.
Conclusion: Community-based participatory approaches supported by digital communication tools may offer a replicable model for voluntary blood donor recruitment in geographically dispersed settings, subject to local adaptation, institutional commitment, and sustained volunteer engagement.
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