Blood safety

Introduction

Blood services in Ethiopia have for the last 30 years been mainly provided by the Ethiopian Red Cross Society (ERCS) through its 12 regional blood banks and augmented by the replacement and directed donations in 35% of its 126 hospitals countrywide. However, there has been gross inadequacy and in-equitability in access to blood safety by the population, particularly in the regions. Only 24,000 units were collected in 2004 (i.e. 0.3 units/1000 people) and of these 17,000 units (71% of the total) were collected from Addis Ababa. This indicates the severe shortage of blood supplies for the vast majority of the population (about 96%) residing outside Addis Ababa. Testing of the blood for the presence of major infections such as Hepatitis B was not universal in most of the transfusion centres in the country. Although HIV was said to be tested in all of the units, problems in the supply of HIV testing kits was observed. There is also shortage of manpower in most of the centres. Furthermore, there are no quality systems in place and neither were there national guidelines for clinical use of blood.

WHO response

Using the opportunity presented by the WHO/PEPFAR/CDC project, the country office has been strengthened to play a better role in improving the availability, adequacy and safety of blood in the country. WHO AFRO has adopted the Regional Strategy for blood safety in 2001 and in collaboration with HQ has continued to support the implementation of the strategy in Ethiopia. In this regard WHO has supported the development of a five year strategy/ policy on blood safety? WHO has and has also conducted a thorough baseline assessment and mapping of the existing blood services in the country. In addition, standard blood bank building plans as well as lists of recommended equipments have been prepared and presented to the Federal Ministry of Health.

In order to establish a benchmark for future progress assessment WHO has supported KAP studies on voluntary non remunerated blood donation in 7 of the 11 regions, trained 26 staff involved in blood donor recruitment from all the regions and the Ministry of Defence, hospitals and Ethiopian Red Cross Society (ERCS) staff. It also developed procedures for use in the blood donor recruitment program, as part of the means to strengthen the voluntary non remunerated blood donation program.

WHO has also supported the development of Guidelines for appropriate use of blood and a total of 44 individuals including 42 medical doctors (general practitioners and specialists) have been trained on the application of the guideline. They will in turn conduct step-down training in the regions.

Way Forward

The WHO will continue to provide support to the Federal Ministry of Health (FMoH) for the implementation of the country's Blood Safety Strategy with special emphasis to strengthening the regions to meet their respective blood supply demands. In particular, the intended support will seek to emphasise service provision among other interventions.

Related links

Regional training workshop on blood donor recruitment: pre and post Donation counseling

Speech at the training workshop on blood donor recruitment