LifeBank: Nigerian Health Tech Startup Addressing The Issue of Blood Shortages in Nigeria And Other Parts of Africa

LifeBank is a Nigerian health tech startup that facilitates the transmission of blood from labs across Nigeria and other parts of Africa, to patients and doctors in hospitals. 

Formerly known as One Percent Project, the startup was founded in 2016 by Temie Giwa-Tubosun to address the issue of blood shortages in Africa.

LifeBank remarkable services have continued to have a profound impact on healthcare in Nigeria. Since its inception, the startup has saved thousands of lives by delivering more than 25,000 essential medical products to roughly 550 hospitals in need.

LifeBank uses data technology and smart logistics to improve the discoverability, delivery, affordability, and safety of essential medical products like blood and oxygen for health systems.

The company delivers an average of 300 imperial pints (170 L) of blood a month to more than 170 hospitals across Lagos, Nigeria. It also regularly runs blood drives across the state, in collaboration with the state government’s blood transfusion services, in order to help increase the supply of blood across the state.

LifeBank innovations ensure that hospitals can improve their efficiency and operate faster and safer. From blockchain-powered records to drone technology, contactless distribution, and access to biomedical engineering talent. 

The company is constantly leveraging technology to improve processes and enhance the quality of healthcare hospitals can offer to patients.

 Its deployment services utilize USSD or SMS to ensure universal access, Patients or doctors place a phone call or make an order through the company’s app. 

Then, the Life Bank contacts the blood bank closest to the patient and the delivery service begins. The company can deliver supplies in less than 50 minutes.

In order to ensure that its services get to their destination on time, LifeBank uses every type of delivery service, which includes bikes, boats, trucks, tricycles, and drones. Also, it utilizes Google Maps to calculate and monitor the routes involved in blood transportation.

In a bid to save more lives across Africa, the startup expanded to Kenya in 2020. The startup continuously educates people on the importance of blood donation for anyone in need of blood and increases accessibility to blood banks. It does this by working with hospitals and clinics.

LifeBank is trusted by hospitals in Nigeria, Ethiopia, and Kenya, which include Nizamiye Hospital, Lagoon Hospital, Mama Lucy Kibaki Hospital, and Arsho, amongst others.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), nearly 20% of all global maternal deaths occur in Nigeria. Access to blood could significantly reduce cases of maternal deaths involving blood loss. 

To play an active role in enhancing access to blood for patients, LifeBank is on a mission to create a more robust healthcare system by strengthening the supply chain engine across Africa. 

The startup plans to expand to other African countries to save more lives by delivering medical supplies to reduce preventable deaths.