A Loua1, J B Nikiema2, A Sougou2, O J M Kasilo2. 1. World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Office for Africa, Cité du Djoue, P.O. Box 06 Brazzaville, Democratic Republic of the Congo. Electronic address: louaa@who.int. 2. World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Office for Africa, Cité du Djoue, P.O. Box 06 Brazzaville, Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Different evaluations conducted on blood safety between 2004 and 2013 in Africa showed some progress in most countries. This paper describes the current status of the availability and access to safe blood in the Region. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey was conducted from January to December 2018. Data were collected through a questionnaire prepared using key indicators of blood safety and analysis was done using Excel 2010 and results were compared to those of the 2013. RESULTS: A total of 2,678 blood centres were reported including 244 (9%) stand-alone and 2,434 (91%) hospital based. Amongst these countries, 90.2% had a blood policy, 60.1% participated in an External Quality Assessment Scheme for Transfusion Transmissible Infections screening, 12% had accredited blood services, 73.2% had national guidelines on clinical use of blood and 78% had a government budget. The total number of blood units collected was 4,899,913 and the average proportion of voluntary blood donations was 71%. Plasma-derived medicinal products were included in the national essential medicines list in 52.6% of countries. The average proportion of units of blood tested for infections was 99.5% for HIV, 92.3% for HBV, 98.9% for HCV, 98.8% for syphilis. The percentage of whole blood separated into blood components was 63.4%. CONCLUSION: Countries in the region continue to improve availability and access to safe blood, but challenges still remain and call for concrete actions required to reach universal access to quality and safe blood for transfusion throughout the region.
INTRODUCTION: Different evaluations conducted on blood safety between 2004 and 2013 in Africa showed some progress in most countries. This paper describes the current status of the availability and access to safe blood in the Region. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey was conducted from January to December 2018. Data were collected through a questionnaire prepared using key indicators of blood safety and analysis was done using Excel 2010 and results were compared to those of the 2013. RESULTS: A total of 2,678 blood centres were reported including 244 (9%) stand-alone and 2,434 (91%) hospital based. Amongst these countries, 90.2% had a blood policy, 60.1% participated in an External Quality Assessment Scheme for Transfusion Transmissible Infections screening, 12% had accredited blood services, 73.2% had national guidelines on clinical use of blood and 78% had a government budget. The total number of blood units collected was 4,899,913 and the average proportion of voluntary blood donations was 71%. Plasma-derived medicinal products were included in the national essential medicines list in 52.6% of countries. The average proportion of units of blood tested for infections was 99.5% for HIV, 92.3% for HBV, 98.9% for HCV, 98.8% for syphilis. The percentage of whole blood separated into blood components was 63.4%. CONCLUSION: Countries in the region continue to improve availability and access to safe blood, but challenges still remain and call for concrete actions required to reach universal access to quality and safe blood for transfusion throughout the region.
Authors: Alex P Salam; Alexandre Duvignaud; Marie Jaspard; Denis Malvy; Miles Carroll; Joel Tarning; Piero L Olliaro; Peter W Horby Journal: PLoS Negl Trop Dis Date: 2022-03-30
Authors: André Loua; Ossy Muganga Julius Kasilo; Jean Baptiste Nikiema; Aissatou Sarassa Sougou; Stanislav Kniazkov; Edith Andrews Annan Journal: Vox Sang Date: 2021-02-02 Impact factor: 2.996
Authors: Luis Baião Peliganga; Vinicius Motta Mello; Paulo Sergio Fonseca de Sousa; Marco Aurelio Pereira Horta; Álvaro Domingos Soares; João Pedro da Silva Nunes; Miguel Nobrega; Lia Laura Lewis-Ximenez Journal: Pathogens Date: 2021-12-17