Detailed Mechanism Funding and Narrative

Years of mechanism: 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015

Details for Mechanism ID: 13262
Country/Region: Tanzania
Year: 2013
Main Partner: Ministry of Health and Social Welfare - Tanzania
Main Partner Program: NA
Organizational Type: Host Country Government Agency
Funding Agency: HHS/CDC
Total Funding: $3,400,000

The overall goal of this activity is to strengthen and maintain a sustainable national blood transfusion service in order to provide adequate and accessible safe blood collected from Voluntary Non-Remunerated Blood Donors (VNRBDs). Areas of focus include Monitoring and Evaluation, quality systems, finance, and human resource management. The main objectives are to strengthen the coordination and management of NBTS, which includes operations in various zones with two sub partners to improve geographical and facility safe blood coverage.

Strategies to collect safe and adequate blood will rely on technical assistance, equitable distribution of funds to zones based on population and other parameters, establishment of more collection and distribution blood satellite sites, renovation of laboratory space, implementation of a blood computer system, and incinerator repairs to ensure quality blood products and safety. Management, organizational coordination and capacity will be strengthened through implementation of the human resource management manual. In order to improve efficiency, the procurement, logistic and supplies systems will be strengthened. Since 80% of blood collected in all zones is through mobile drives, the purchase of additional vehicles to stenghern recruitment and collection is planned.

Training and mentorship to develop excellence in safe blood operations will be conducted with an eye to program sustainability. Advocating for increased URT funding, developing and strengthening Public Private Partnerships, and linking to other programs to leverage other funding will be priorities in order to reduce dependency on USG.

Funding for Biomedical Prevention: Blood Safety (HMBL): $3,400,000

For COP 2012, NBTS will implement activities to develop, review, produce, and disseminate various NBTS guidelines; strengthen infrastructure to ensure effective operation, transportation, and distribution of blood and blood products; work with relevant TA to implement mobilization of low risk donors; and strengthen recruitment strategies through implementation of a revised advocacy plan. COP 2012 funds will both establish new satellite sites and strengthen existing sites. Attracting more blood donors will be targeted through producing and disseminating effective IEC materials, and through the formation of donor clubs at schools and colleges. Investments will also go toward improving linkages with organizations supporting HIV counseling and testing for negative HIV donor referrals. Roll out of the blood computer system to remaining zones will help facilitate the tracking of donor information from donor to recipient.

In order to improve the provision of safe blood to health facilities, NBTS plans to increase blood components production to 40% of the total collection. This can be achieved after the renovation of adequate laboratory space and the installation of equipment. Hospital clinicians will also be trained to ensure rational blood usage and through the formation of hospital committees which will be supervised by zones.

This project will support the on-going strengthening of a quality system. Training and mentorship will expedite the accreditation process for two zones. Refresher training, mentorship and skills building in testing and processing through updated testing technologies will develop capacity in donor selection and counseling in order to reduce the prevalence of HIV and other TTIs in donated blood to less than 2%. This project will also review and implement the testing algorithm in blood group serology and TTIs testing. In order to have continued quality services in all zones, preventive maintenance of equipment and facilities will be scheduled on regular bases.

NBTS will undertake improvements in program finance to ensure sustainability by identifying other sources of funding. Revenue generation strategies will be developed along with finding creative ways to increase government funding. Regular internal and external audits will be conducted, thus strengthening the procurement system. The project will also advocate and develop related documents to establish NBTS as a semi-autonomous institution.

NBTS will implement a monitoring and evaluation plan by strengthening supervisory tools and conducting quarterly supportive supervision to the zonal centers and health facilities. It will conduct semi-annual zonal managers and stakeholders meeting to assess implementation of program activities; train staff on and implement monitoring and evaluation frameworks; develop and implement an operational research road map; create a clients services charter; and produce and disseminated statistical analysis on blood safety indicators on a quarterly, semi-annually, and annual basis.

Cross Cutting Budget Categories and Known Amounts Total: $1,648,558
Human Resources for Health $1,468,558
Motor Vehicles: Purchased $180,000