August 13, 2005
Cell Phone mobilize support in medical emergencies
In India, in numerous examples of medical emergencies, mobile operator Airtel has helped to mobilise instant support from their wide subscriber base. Chandigarh Newsline reports.
"In recent months, there have been a number of instances where mobile users have received SMS messages telling them about someone's severe medical emergency and seeking help by way of donating blood or money. Such initiatives have worked wonders for the needy people as mobile users have instantly shown in large numbers how they really care, thanks to the reach of the cellular network."
In an incident on Thursday evening, 22-year-old leukamia patient Aneeta Sharma's blood platelet count went dangerously down and authorities at the Blood Centre, Sector 37, started desperately searching for fresh blood for the B-positive blood-group girl.
"Finding fresh blood of this group nowhere, we approached Airtel and they flashed SMS messages to their subscribers. In just an hour, we received about 150 calls offering B-positive blood," said Blood Transfusion Officer Dr Kuldeep Singh.
Besides Airtel, the other mobile operator doing such service is Spice. When contacted, the rest of the mobile operators said either they had no such policy to help people or that such SMS-sending was disallowed by TRAI. Airtel and Spice, however, said this was a ‘‘noble cause'' and they would continue it."
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