08.P0301 Safe Blood for Africa - Technical assistance on Blood Safety Isssues

Through PEPFAR Track 1 funding, SFBA provides technical assistance to the NBTS in collaboration with

the MOH since September 2004. The Blood Safety program covers seven key areas: infrastructure, blood

collection, testing, blood utilization, training, monitoring and evaluation, and sustainability.

2007 progress

SBFA assisted in the introduction of the concept and terms of reference for Hospitals Transfusion

Committees in all 28 public hospitals in Botswana, and assisted in the formation of a National Committee on

Clinical Use of Blood and Blood Products. Currently, 11 of the hospitals have functional hospital transfusion

committees (HTCs). The establishment of these HCTs and the National Committee will provide a reporting

structure for the NBTS and the MOH to monitor blood utilization as well as promoting the rational use of

blood and blood products. Updates on clinical and laboratory transfusion practice are distributed to

healthcare providers. Review of the national blood policy and clinical guidelines was planned for FY2007.

Training in blood safety issues is predominately provided or facilitated by SFBA. The increase in blood

collection and the reduction in HIV prevalence in donated blood have been achieved largely through training

to improve blood donor recruitment, increased staff capacity, training in blood safety skills, and training

community workers in basic blood donor recruitment skills. 504 healthcare workers received blood

transfusion services training in FY2007.

SBFA assisted the NBTS in the recruitment of personnel by drafting job descriptions for the new posts,

preparing advertisements and selecting a short-list of applicants. SFBA participated in identifying equipment

needs and provided specifications for critical new equipment to be purchased for 28 hospital blood banks.

SBFA worked closely with their NBTS counterparts in identifying sites for two fixed blood donation centers

and assisted in the design of comprehensive alterations for the NBC in Gaborone by providing the lay-out

plan, negotiating for acquisition of the building, and ensuring a complete and timely environment impact

assessment, preparing advertisements for tender and monitoring the renovation project through regular site

meetings. The renovation is now fully underway and is scheduled for completion by February 2008.

Technical assistance (TA) has also been provided in the identification of a suitable site for the RBC in

Francistown.

2008 plans

SBFA will provide assistance in the rational use of blood and alternatives through continued medical

education (CME) and updates in transfusion practice to the healthcare providers.

Establishing a pool of regular, repeat blood donors is pivotal to a safer blood supply. Strategies to increase

regular blood donors include the use of "Pledge 25 clubs" to recruit and retain in-school and out-off school

youth as blood donors. Pledge 25 club members pledge to donate 25 units of blood in their lifetime, and are

actively encouraged to maintain low risk lifestyles. The Botswana public is being educated on the

importance of blood safety through radio, TV, public meetings, posters and information leaflets. SFBA will

continue to provide assistance in running a call center which provides information on blood donation, donor

recall services and also contacts potential donors by telephone. TA will assist in the development and

distribution strategies of IEC materials, TV and Radio advertisements, and Billboards. The overall objective

is to enable the NBTS to increase blood collection to 28,000 units and to reduce HIV prevalence in donated

blood to 1%.

In FY2008, blood utilization activities will include monitoring the implementation of the revised policy and

guidelines, supporting the operation of the HTCs and ensuring that the National Committee on Clinical Use

of Blood and Blood Products is effective and well supported.

Training activities will include: aphaeresis training for 2 doctors; update sessions for healthcare workers on

blood transfusion; two national blood donor counseling workshops; one day training on Cardio-Pulmonary

Resuscitation (CPR) for counselors and phlebotomists; two counseling workshops for non governmental

organizations (NGOs) and voluntary counseling and testing (VCT) counselors; in-service training of two

counselors to an external aphaeresis unit for 14 days; and detail of two counselors to an external blood

transfusion service for 14 days.