1. LIST OF RELATED ACTIVITES This activity relates to the National Blood Transfusion Service's blood safety activity (#7011).

2. ACTIVITY DESCRIPTION This activity seeks to reduce medical transmission of HIV through technical support from the American Association of Blood Banks (AABB) to the National Blood Transfusion Service (NBTS) for the provision of adequate supplies of safe blood to all health care facilities in Kenya. Through twinning, AABB institutional partners will provide expert guidance and technical assistance to the NBTS resulting in better practices in donor recruitment, blood collection, laboratory quality assurance, blood bank management and transfusion practice. This support will include training, monitoring, guidance, oversight and mentoring through site visits and performance evaluation. This linkage will strengthen the national blood transfusion service and improve institutional capacity for effective program management. It will result in enhanced sustainability and safety of the blood supply. An AABB/NBTS evaluation of the NBTS, performed in FY 2005 provided information that together with follow-up discussions in FY 2006 will be used to develop an action plan for further activities in FY 2007. The AABB will also assist in the development of skills in NBTS and volunteer blood donor recruiters for identification and recruitment of potential low risk volunteer donors and their retention as regular donors. Findings of the KAP study performed in 2004 will also be used to support development of IEC materials for donor recruitment. Continuing education of health care workers in donor recruitment, blood banking and appropriate utilization of transfusion will be provided and systems for training strengthened through development of curricula for different cadre of health care professionals as well as the introduction of best practices and evidence-based approaches to transfusion practice in Kenya. In service training and continuing education will be delivered through workshops, symposiums, on-the-job training and mentoring. Standard operating procedures will be revised and staff trained on their utilization so as to institutionalize quality assurance in blood collection, processing, issuing and for monitoring of adverse events. Health care workers from 20 health care facilities will be trained on implementation of the recently completed National Standards for Transfusion services. Appropriate methods for donor notification will be developed in conjunction with NBBTS. Reliable record keeping and data management systems will be designed to facilitate program evaluation and monitoring. Technical support will be given to initiate five hospital transfusion committees. AABB will guide the process of extension of laboratory space and procurement of equipment for centralized blood testing in Kenya. These efforts will contribute to the PEPFAR goal of improving safety and adequacy of the blood supply and in this way avert new cases of HIV infection.

3. CONTRIBUTIONS TO OVERALL PROGRAM AREA At least 80 health care workers will be trained in blood safety. This activity aims to reduce transmission of HIV through blood transfusion. At the current blood consumption rate in the country this would contribute to the prevention of 4,000 cases of HIV.

4. LINKS TO OTHER ACTIVITIES This activity relates to NBTS's blood safety program/Track 1 cooperative agreement (#7011).

5. POPULATIONS BEING TARGETED The activity targets blood bank staff and health care workers in transfusing health facilities.

6. EMPHASIS AREAS COVERED This activity includes major emphasis on local organization capacity development (NBTS), for community mobilization and participation through the recruitment of low-risk-voluntary blood donors from among all adults above 16 years of age so as to identify a safe source of blood for transfusion. An area of minor emphasis will be training of health care workers to enhance their ability to mobilize safe blood donors and process and use blood appropriately.