Pioneering initiatives for achieving adequate, safe, and sustainable blood supply in resource-constrained countries

18 Nov 2023

This session was held on November 18 2023, during the 34rd Regional ISBT Congress that was held in Cape Town, South Africa from November 18-21, 2023.

The Sustainability of blood services in LMIC session of the Local Day included the following presentations:

1. Bridon M'Baya: The financial sustainability of the blood service in resource limited settings, the Malawi experience
2. Radhi Chikwereti: Costing of blood services in resource-constrained settings: A sustainability perspective in Zimbabwe
3. Caroline Wangamati: Pioneering initiatives for achieving adequate, safe, and sustainable blood supply in resource-constrained countries
4. Tonderai Mapako: Business models application in low- and medium-income countries blood services: sustainability perspectives

MODERATORS: Tonderai Mapako, Ravi Reddy

Abstract

Pioneering initiatives for achieving adequate, safe, and sustainable blood supply in resource-constrained countries.

C W Wangamati¹, V Njambi¹

¹Coalition of Blood for Africa, Nairobi, Kenya

Ensuring a reliable and safe blood supply is a pressing challenge in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) globally, where resource constraints exacerbate sustainability issues. While much attention is given to improving healthcare infrastructure, access to medications, and disease prevention, the significance of safe blood cannot be understated. It is the life force that sustains medical interventions, surgeries, and emergency treatments. However, the scarcity of safe blood in Africa poses a significant threat to the overall health and well-being of its population. This abstract showcases the transformative efforts of the Coalition of Blood for Africa (CoBA) in addressing these challenges, highlighting the essence of collaboration to sustain transfusion services in LMICs.

Key words: Transfusion services, sustainable blood supply, LMICs, blood donation, collaboration, innovative donor mobilization, resource constraints.

Introduction: The scarcity of sustainable blood supply is particularly pronounced in LMICs due to a myriad of interrelated factors, including inadequate infrastructure, limited funding, and a high prevalence of transfusion-dependent diseases. Safe blood transfusion is an essential component of modern medical care. It saves countless lives and plays a pivotal role in the treatment of a wide range of medical conditions, including severe injuries, cancer, complications during childbirth, and chronic diseases such as anaemia. The continent has a weak donation culture with 35 out of 48 countries collecting less than half of the blood required by their health systems.

CoBA is a visionary collaboration platform, uniting diverse state and non-state actors to jointly revolutionize the availability and accessibility of safe blood, diagnostics, products and therapies throughout Africa. It promotes the voice of blood on the continent through public-private dialogue, partnerships and collaboration and inclusion of blood in health systems strengthening discussions.

Initiatives for Sustainability: CoBA focuses its advocacy voice on the following key thematic areas:

-Elevating Blood Priority on the Public Health Agenda;-Policy and Advocacy for Strengthened Blood Systems;

-Mobilizing Voluntary Non-Remunerated Blood Donors;

-Implementing safe blood programs;

-Research and Innovation in Transfusion Medicine.

Conclusion: CoBA's commitment to these initiatives stems from our unwavering belief in the transformative power of sustainable blood systems. By championing these causes, we aim to create a future where Africa's health is safeguarded, communities are united, and lives are saved. Together, we can build a stronger, healthier, and more resilient Africa for generations to come.