Detailed Mechanism Funding and Narrative

Details for Mechanism ID: 8028
Country/Region: Namibia
Year: 2008
Main Partner: Partnership for Supply Chain Management
Main Partner Program: NA
Organizational Type: Private Contractor
Funding Agency: USAID
Total Funding: $300,000

Funding for Biomedical Prevention: Blood Safety (HMBL): $300,000

This is a new activity for FY 2008 to support blood safety and injection safety nation wide. The Partnership

for Supply Chain Management Systems (SCMS) is an international leader in procurement of medical

supplies. This activity will leverage resources provided through the Namibian Blood Transfusion Services

(NamBTS, activity 5124.08), the World Health Organization (WHO, activity 5123.08) the International

Training and Education Center on HIV and AIDS (ITECH, activity 18275.08), and the Partnership for Supply

Chain Management (SCMS activity 18281.08).

NamBTS supplies approximately 20,000 units of blood per year, all of which are screened for principle

transfusion transmissible infections (HIV, HBV, HCV, and syphilis). In addition to the routine need for blood

bags, there is a critical shortage of functioning incinerators to safely dispose of blood bags and other blood

safety materials. SCMS will procure blood bags and incinerators to support the Namibian blood program.

This will go to procure 7,700 blood bags, supplying approximately 38% of the Namibian need for blood

bags. It will also support renovation of approximately 2 large incinerators and 3 smaller incinerators within

strategic geographic points in the country. In addition to blood safety, these incinerators will be a critical

element to support injection safety activities (activities 3774.08, 7461.08). According to the Ministry of

Health and Social Services (MOHSS), Namibia has only one incinerator in country that is fully functional.

The national referral hospital Katatura Hospital incinerator requires significant renovation, and the

incinerators in the hospitals in Grootfontein, Otjiwarongo, and Katima Mulilo have either broken down or

burned down. The incinerators in the other regions are not 100% functional. SCMS will work closely with

CDC and the MOHSS to determine and prioritize the incinerator renovation needs in FY08, and provide the

renovation services as well as required maintenance training.