ACTIVITY HAS BEEN MODIFIED IN THE FOLLOWING WAYS:

BACKGROUND:

The American Association of Blood Banks (AABB) has provided technical assistance to the South African

National Blood Services (SANBS) for the past four years. Due to the existing internal technical capacity of

SANBS, AABB's technical assistance support is focused on providing high-level guidance and resources to

strengthen SANBS program improvements in capacity, policies and systems. This includes supporting a

safe blood donor base by education and selection, the improvement of SANBS training programs to

address skill and knowledge shortages, the educational strategies related to national and regional learning

programs, the strengthening of the information and technology systems, and the activities to comply with

the provisions of the South Africa National Health Act.

ACTIVITES AND EXPECTED RESULTS:

ACTIVITY 1: Training

Training is an important aspect of program sustainability. It also serves as a critical catalyst in the

effectiveness of a sound communication and change control program. SANBS has recognized this. SANBS

understands the critical need for training in a time where they have experienced organizational restructuring

and desire system strengthening. Their challenges in development, change control, training, and program

consistency are compounded by the wide dispersion of blood systems staff in the nine provinces. In

addressing these challenges, SANBS has created staffed training departments for both the donor and

technical areas of the business. Therefore, AABB's technical assistance support in training has been

focused on providing resources, guidance, and trainer development of the training departments rather than

conducting training sessions for the individual SANBS technical and donor staff. While the total number of

trained individuals for AABB's program in South Africa is not as high when compared to AABB's other

PEPFAR countries, the workshops have to be developed for a much higher level audience. This results in

the development of workshops having more complex content and quality to meet the needs of the

participants. The workshops also have to be facilitated by a high level of subject matter expert. By

increasing the skill level and knowledge of the trainers that train the donor and technical staff, this effectively

ensures system stability and sustainability throughout SANBS. The following are some of the key activities

and accomplishments of AABB in the area of training in this past year including continued activities intended

for 2009.

Workshops: Conducted two workshops for the skill enhancement of the SANBS Training Departments

focusing on Training the Trainer, Project Management, and Management Development. The training

department personnel that AABB has trained in these workshops in turn are responsible for training all the

SANBS donor and technical staff. Therefore, this training by AABB has a direct impact on the skill and

knowledge advancement of the entire SANBS donor and technical staff throughout South Africa. In 2009

AABB will conduct two additional training workshops in Project and Management Development for the

purpose of addressing the needs and skill shortage of SANBS.

2009 activities will also be expanded to include seeking formalization and accreditation for a Trainer

Certification Program. This program will focus on developing and enhancing the training skills of healthcare

professionals in the areas of adult learning, effective communication, developing training programs, change

control, and the overall training process. The process of formalizing this program for accreditation will

require the development of approved trainer's manuals, participant's manuals, program activities,

presentations, workshops and seminars, hand outs, an approved curriculum, comprehension

documentation, and other related materials as required by such agencies as the South African

Qualifications Authority and the South African Department of Education and/or the Health Professional

Council of South Africa. This Trainer Certification Program will compliment the curriculum of the new

SANBS training facility for use in South Africa with the intent of being able to offer this program later to other

African countries.

Training and Improving Practices of Professional Staff: In 2008, a Pediatric Transfusion Conference in

Rwanda for the AABB PEPFAR Countries, which included South Africa, was held. The main purpose of this

conference was to discuss and review current cellular therapy practices related to pediatric transfusion.

AABB sponsored two South African delegates that attended and spoke at the conference. Intention is for

AABB to host another conference in the upcoming year. More than 10 participants representing South

Africa attended numerous managerial and technical development sessions at the AABB Annual Meeting

last October. AABB membership was provided to four individuals from South Africa allowing access to

educational information and materials for development and advancement of safe blood practices. These

memberships also increased the professional development capabilities of SANBS staff through the support

of AABB as material and knowledge was shared throughout the organization. AABB will continue to provide

four memberships in the upcoming year.

ACTIVITY 2: Incorporation of Western Province Blood Transfusion Service (WPBTS)

The National Health Act requires a single national blood transfusion service. This means that in the future

the WPBTS will merge with SANBS creating a sole provider. In 2008 funding was used to support this

merger, specifically in the area developing a standardized national training program for both donor and

technical staff. It was recognized that both WPBTS and SANBS had training programs with strengths and

weaknesses. It was also understood if the two combined the strengths of their programs into one utilizing

the best practices, a much stronger standardized national training program would emerge. Therefore, AABB

facilitated a workshop for the purpose of training program standardization that utilized 11 training program

subject matter experts from the staffs of both SANBS and WPBTS. The resulting action assignments

developed from the workshop required the subject matter experts from both groups to work together for the

common goal of developing a national training program of consistency, standardization, and improvement.

This activity of developing a national training program has helped open up communications and support

Activity Narrative: with both groups working towards a common goal of improving a national blood transfusion service. AABB

will continue to coordinate and facilitate the identified activities in 2009 and support WPBTS representatives

being actively included in the workshops related to the development of a standardized national training

program. A listing of the outcome from the activities include but are not limited to a standardized

documentation system, national training consistency, continuing education program, and a competency

assessment program.

ACTIVITY 3: Establishment of Training Center

SANBS is developing a national and regional Training Center that will focus on training of donor and

technical staff and to develop programs to educate healthcare professionals in the advancement of

transfusion practices. In 2008, AABB brought in a team of technical specialists and performed an

assessment of the South African training systems to determine what improvements were needed to support

the goals of the Training Center. The assessment included reviewing the training systems in Johannesburg,

Durban, and Cape Town. A finalized report was developed resulting in items being identified that would

need improvement or changes if a Training Center was to be successful. With AABB's help, improvement

projects were identified and prioritized, project definitions were drafted, and action assignments were

developed. These projects include the need for curriculum expansion for soft computer skills, training

support, mentoring system for consistency in the field, infrastructure improvements for distance learning,

space and equipment needs for future needs, program accreditation, and material resources for education

support. AABB facilitated and helped coordinate the action assignment activities related to these projects. In

2009, AABB will continue supporting and facilitating the completion of the projects utilizing available

technical resources as needed. This includes ensuring milestones are recognized and met, objective

monitoring and measuring of progress, overseeing issue resolution and coordination to carry out the plan of

each project. Once projects are completed, AABB will ensure formalized closure is performed.

ACTIVITY 4: Policy and System Strengthening

In 2008, AABB supported SANBS in the development of a new evaluation form to use for screening

potential donors. Documents and regulatory information were supplied by AABB to support both the

development of the regular and condensed version of the form. AABB has organized a workshop at the

Annual AABB Conference being held in October 2008 for the purpose of reviewing the new forms.

Evaluation form subject matter experts will be present to not only review, but also discuss the regulatory

and safety aspects of the new forms. In 2009 AABB will continue to support process improvements in the

training system as previously identified and continue to provide assistance as needed for the establishment

of an accreditation program which is ongoing. In addition, in 2009 AABB will expand its activities to include

the development of Transfusion Service National Disaster Plan. This will be extremely important because of

World Cup Soccer being held in South Africa in 2010. The beginning of this support will be exposure of

SANBS Leadership to lectures and workshops held at the AABB Annual Meeting concerning disaster

planning. From this introductory information a formal project will be initiated with AABB support given in all

project phases from initiation, planning, executing, coordinating, and closing. The successful final outcome

of this project will be an approved Transfusion Services Disaster Plan that meets the needs of South Africa.

ACTIVITY 5: Information Technology System

SANBS is rolling out the Meditech operational (information) system and has used AABB for technical

assistance. Although AABB did not provide additional technical assistance in 2008 for this project, future

assistance will be made available, especially with the goal of creating a system in which the Meditech and

SAP computer systems are linked to a Data Warehouse. This essential component of the information

system will allow the management of the blood donor base, effectiveness analysis of donor education and

selection programs, risk management, and optimal management of the blood inventory. AABB will assist in

the development of data reporting and its use for the purposes of monitoring improvement to blood safety

and blood services operations.

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SUMMARY:

The American Association of Blood Banks (AABB) has been awarded Track 1 funding to continue providing

technical assistance to the South African National Blood Service (SANBS) for purposes of strengthening the

blood supply in South Africa. The focus of this activity is to achieve substantial improvement in the affected

transfusion services and their infrastructure, and to improve transfusion safety. The ultimate goal is to effect

significant change in the incidence of transfusion-transmitted HIV.

BACKGROUND:

The AABB cooperative agreement funds technical assistance for 5 of the 15 PEPFAR target countries.

AABB has provided technical assistance to SANBS for the past three years.

ACTIVITES AND EXPECTED RESULTS:

ACTIVITY 1: Training

Training activities will focus on building human capacity and addressing the skills shortage in SANBS.

AABB will assist in quality improvements in training of trainers, training delivery, and documentation of

training, as well as operational activities to improve performance and knowledge of SANBS staff. In order to

facilitate knowledge and skills transfer, AABB will provide SANBS with AABB membership and facilitate key

personnel to attend the AABB Annual Meeting.

ACTIVITY 2: Incorporation of Western Province Blood Transfusion Service (WPBTS)

Activity Narrative: AABB will assist SANBS in the incorporation of the WPBTS into the SANBS PEPFAR program. This will be

accomplished by focusing on training and personnel development, and through the development of

appropriate information technology systems for the collection of national data as an indicator of the status of

blood transfusion in South Africa.

ACTIVITY 3: Establishment of Training Center

AABB will assist SANBS in establishing an international training center for blood center operations and

transfusion services. Following a comprehensive evaluation of the current process of training throughout

SANBS, AABB will assist in implementation of recommendations to improve the overall training process

throughout SANBS. Once this is established, AABB will assist SANBS in expanding the training center to

provide training opportunities to other African countries.

ACTIVITY 4: Policy and System Strengthening

Currently SANBS is self-regulated but they would like to move towards developing an external accreditation

program. AABB will assist with the establishment of the accreditation program to provide more objectivity on

the operations of SANBS. AABB will also participate in the development of South African national blood

policies, especially regarding notification of blood donor test results.

ACTIVITY 5: Information Technology Systems

SANBS rolled out the Meditech operational (information) system with technical assistance from AABB. This

will allow the management of the blood donor base, analysis of the effectiveness of donor education and

selection programs, risk management and the optimal management of the blood inventory. AABB will

continue to provide technical assistance as it is rolled out to all regions. AABB will also assist with the

development of M&E systems and Quality Management Systems data reporting for purposes of monitoring

improvement to blood safety and blood services operations. By providing technical assistance to SANBS,

AABB will help to ensure that the blood supply is safe and meets the blood supply needs in South Africa.

Building local capacity will also ensure the sustainability of SANBS programs.

New/Continuing Activity: Continuing Activity

Continuing Activity: 13381

Continued Associated Activity Information

Activity Activity ID USG Agency Prime Partner Mechanism Mechanism ID Mechanism Planned Funds

System ID System ID

13381 7926.08 HHS/Centers for American 6456 4628.08 Track 1 $500,000

Disease Control & Association of

Prevention Blood Banks

7926 7926.07 HHS/Centers for American 4628 4628.07 Track 1 $400,000

Disease Control & Association of

Prevention Blood Banks

Emphasis Areas

Workplace Programs

Human Capacity Development

Public Health Evaluation

Food and Nutrition: Policy, Tools, and Service Delivery

Food and Nutrition: Commodities

Economic Strengthening

Education

Water

Table 3.3.04: