In FY 2008, the National Blood Transfusion Service (NBTC) will continue its activities in blood collection,

screening, and transfusion throughout Rwanda. The NBTC will continue implementing its blood safety

protocols involving screening for transfusion-transmissible infections (TTI) including HIV, commodity

procurement of blood safety supplies, staff supervision, and training for blood safety activities at the 47

national service outlet sites.

In FY 2008, blood services will be expanded through site rehabilitation and community outreach activities to

increase blood donations by 10% and encourage more low-risk individuals to donate. The NBTC will

improve existing blood transfusion-related services and expand blood collection throughout the country.

Increasing the number of collection sites and decentralizing transfusion capacity will better serve the

outlying hospitals and reduce the demand on the Kigali center. To ensure the sustainability of the NBTC, a

cost recovery system will be introduced.

In addition, implementation of a KAP (Knowledge Attitude Practices) survey will target donors and non-

donors to investigate factors influencing blood donation and inform mobilization projects targeting low-risk

donors. Based on KAP findings, the NBTC will conduct community education activities on the benefits of

blood donation, in collaboration with the Rwanda Health Communication Center.

In FY 2008, the EP will improve the quality of existing services and increase local capacity. A major

emphasis will be the quality assurance plan (QA). This includes establishing and communicating QA

policies such as error management and audit programs, documenting blood transfusion standards and

norms, developing a hemo-viligance policy and blood utilization tracking system, and adapting

biohazardous waste disposal guidelines. In addition, the EP will support distribution of the first procedure

manuals for the blood collection process, train staff in standard operating procedures, achieve quality

control for blood screening tests on a national level, install an information system for blood center

operations, and develop a maintenance manual for laboratory equipment. Capacity building activities

focusing on training in QA, laboratory practices, donor recruitment and retention, blood storage, M&E,

platelet production, and blood transfusion management will be conducted in FY 2008. Over 300 blood

safety staff in all health districts will be trained by NBTC.

The NBTC will also create linkages between blood safety activities and TC. There is currently no notification

program for donors who give HIV-infected blood. In FY 2008, the NBTC will deploy new intake forms, which

will better identify low-risk donors, and will inform all donors that their blood will be tested for various TTIs

including HIV, Hepatitis B & C, and Syphilis. This program will inform strategies to improve the

collaboration between blood safety and TC programs in Rwanda. This will expand overall HIV prevention

efforts and ensure that HIV-infected individuals are referred to care, treatment, and follow-up.

This is a new activity in FY 2008 as the EP will be assisting the CNTS to purchase and procure blood safety

supplies and consumables. In FY 2008, SCMS, which works in close colloboration with CAMERWA, will

procure viral serology test assays for HIV, HBV, HCV, as well as test assays for syphilis. Blood collection

and transfer supplies will include plasma expressors, hemostats, blood and transfer bags, hand sealers,

calibration weights and an analytical balance.

The EP will also purchase other critical lab reagents, disinfectants and equipment to ensure safe collection,

processing and cold chain management of blood. These include glycerin, blood and platelet administration

sets, and coolant packs.

Furthermore, SCMS and CAMERWA will procure biosafety commodities to implement safety procedures

protecting the staff and the environment from work-related contamination from HIV and other infectious

diseases. These commodities include safety goggles, face shields, gloves, hand sanitizer, bio-hazard

waste bags, sharps containers, biohazard stickers, eye wash, and disinfectants.

The blood safety supplies will be used by the CNTS staff in daily operations at all four regional centers and

at all mobile blood drives. The procedures put in place, using the materials, would also be available to

protect donors, visitors, and the environment from unexpected exposure to blood-borne pathogens.