DEVELOPMENT OF AN ONLINE BLOOD BANK MANAGEMENT SYSTEM (A CASE STUDY OF UNIVERSITY OF NIGERIA TEACHING HOSPITAL, ENUGU)

This study focuses on the development of an online blood bank management system using the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital as a case study. The research was motivated by the inefficiencies associated with the existing manual and semi-computerized blood bank systems, which often result in poor record keeping, delays in accessing information, and difficulty in tracking blood availability during emergencies. The study adopted a descriptive and system development research design. Data were collected through questionnaires, interviews, and observation of blood bank operations within the hospital. The findings revealed that the current system is largely inefficient and unable to meet the growing demands of healthcare service delivery. Based on these findings, an online blood bank management system was designed and developed to improve the efficiency of blood bank operations. The proposed system incorporates features such as donor registration, blood inventory tracking, request processing, and real-time access to information. The system was implemented using modern programming tools and tested to ensure reliability and effectiveness. The results of the study indicate that the proposed system significantly improves data management, reduces errors, enhances accessibility, and ensures timely response to emergency situations. It is therefore recommended that the system be adopted by the hospital and other healthcare institutions in Nigeria to improve service delivery and save lives.