Progress toward strengthening national blood transfusion services--14 countries, 2008-2010.

In sub-Saharan Africa, transfusion-transmitted human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection persists, particularly among women and children, who receive most blood transfusions. Providing technical and financial assistance to national blood transfusion services to increase the adequacy of blood collections and to prevent transfusion-transmitted HIV infection continues to be a priority under the U.S. President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR). Since 2004, PEPFAR has provided support (including policy guidance, strengthening laboratory capacity, and enhancing recruitment and retention of safe blood donors) to national blood transfusion services in 14 countries heavily impacted by HIV. CDC previously has described progress made by these countries during 2003-2007. This report summarizes the results of updated analyses of data collected by national blood transfusion services during 2008-2010 and reported to CDC, which indicated that, since 2007 1) legislative frameworks supporting a national blood policy were established in two countries, are under development in two countries, and are being updated in one country; 2) the number of whole blood units collected had increased in 11 countries; 3) the percentage of collections from voluntary nonremunerated donors had increased in five countries; and 4) the proportion of collected units reactive for HIV had decreased in 12 countries. Countries supported by PEPFAR continue to make progress toward improving safe and adequate supplies of blood. Continued government commitment is critical for ensuring quality, safety, and adequacy of the blood supply and sustaining the national blood transfusion service after eventual transition from PEPFAR support.