In Mali, the Blood Shortage Remains a Critical Challenge for the Healthcare System. In response to this ongoing emergency, a local digital solution is stepping in to help.
Djooli, a digital health solution developed by a Malian startup, is leveraging mobile technology to streamline blood donation requests and connect patients with willing donors. Founded by Abdourahamane Boubacar Diarra and Soumaila Abdoulaye Diarra, the platform enables users to issue blood donation requests by specifying blood type, city, and the hospital involved. Registered donors within Djooli's database then receive notifications inviting them to respond on-site.
The solution, available as a mobile application on both iOS and Android, has already garnered over 500 downloads on the Play Store. Users create an account and become a "djool", the term the startup uses for blood donors on its platform. Djooli collects all essential information for blood donation from its "djools," ranging from medical details to their city of residence.
When a patient requires blood, they initiate a request through the app, providing the necessary blood type, city, and hospital. Subsequently, registered donors in the database receive a notification to respond. Beyond simply matching supply with demand, Djooli aims to cultivate a national community of solidarity centered around blood donation.
Supported by awareness campaigns and partnerships with healthcare facilities, the app seeks to modernize the blood donation chain through digital technology. This initiative also aligns with the broader trend of the gradual digitization of health services across West Africa.
As calls for mobilization intensify to address Mali’s chronic blood shortage, Djooli exemplifies how technological innovation can address a pressing public health need by emphasizing proximity, responsiveness, and civic engagement. In 2024, the startup secured second place at the Orange Social Venture Prize for Africa and the Middle East (POESAM), receiving a grant of 4 million CFA francs (approximately $6,850).
By Adoni Conrad Quenum,
Editing by Feriol Bewa
