BISKIT: Blood information system for crisis intervention and management in Nigeria

Common IT applications in the blood donation sector often only cover the areas of donor management, laboratory findings, inventory management and merchandise management systems. Although existing systems allow real-time retrieval of stock levels and incoming donations, they cannot process data relating to a crisis, such as the prioritized distribution of components. The analysis of existing IT applications in the blood donation field and findings from past crises have shown that the following points, among others, are important for evidence-based decision support in the event of a crisis (Result: IKARIM Definition Workshop, 2018): the ability to quickly switch to emergency mode, which allows faster action and alternative release methods of blood reserves; provide data from multiple sources and from multiple vendors; adaptation to a mobile application for tablets and smartphones; the integration of geographical information for the optimization of logistic processes.

The supply of safe blood products is essential for a normal, functional health system, but deficiencies in this supply chain become acutely problematic during a crisis. The ability to increase incoming supply and manipulate existing stock in response to an emergency are crucial. Leveraging on the lessons learned from addressing other related health supply chain issues, a technological solution can support the existing blood system and make it better able to rapidly adapt to adverse conditions.

The BISKIT application provides:

• leverages and contributes to OpenSource, as is standard for eHealth solutions and products (codes and artifacts are available publicly);
• an API based solution – thus integration with existing systems is easily delivered to ease information sharing among institutions;
• geolocation (latitude/longitude) enabled for optimal tracking of logistical, supply and distribution;
• mathematically model the respective blood supply chains from a logistical perspective using GIS-data;
• capabilities for creation of (near-) optimal solutions for the different crisis scenarios, including the planning of storage locations, transportation routes, human resource management etc., and develop forecasts on blood supply and demand;
• USSD based reporting features;
• Web application dashboards for data aggregation and visualization.

The application has been fully developed and functionality tests have been fully completed. The next phase is the evaluation of the prototype in response to emergency crisis particularly in the north eastern part of Nigeria affected by the Boko Haram insurgency. The evaluation will help ascertain the adaption mechanism and generate further data to drive its further development and scaling across institutions and localities where acute shortage is recorded in day-to-day operation and worse off during crisis.

Process flow caption is available.

The app has been designed to solve the blood supply issues in emergency situation by ensuring availability, stock level and re-distribution management, effective management and distribution of safe blood supply anchoring on visibility, accountability and efficiency. The BISKIT application monitors donor recruitments, donations, processing, testing, transportation, storage and issuing of blood products to the receiving patient using GIS. It quickly switches to emergency mode, allowing faster action and alternative release methods of blood reserves. It ensures visibility and optimal accountability with digital evidence for all resources and activities in the chain. It integrates geographical information for the optimization of logistics processes. It functions offline, and can synchronize with the rest of the system when connectivity is restored. It provides data from multiple sources and from multiple vendors, incorporating a USSD reporting feature. It tracks adverse events, temperature history, and traces the origin of donations. It sends feedback to donors on the use of their donations.