MoU signed with German bank for safe blood transfusion programme

PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Health Department on Tuesday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with German Development Bank (KfW) on the second phase of safe blood transfusion programme.

A ceremony was held at the health secretariat with Health Minister Shahram Tarakai in the chair.

Secretary Health Mohammad Abid Majeed signed the MoU on behalf of the Health Department while Dr Masooma Zaidi, project coordinator KfW, represented the German Development Bank. According to the MoU, the KfW will provide financial assistance for the establishment for Regional Blood Centres (RBCs) in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa with a capacity of up to 20,000 blood donations per year while the provincial health department will act as project executing agency (PEA).  The KfW will also provide assistance for the procurement of medical laboratory equipment in those RBCs and in additional twelve hospitals based blood bank (HBBs).

Other areas of financial assistance by KfW include waste management and disposal system, management information system, technical and management training for the RBCs and HBBs, equipment maintenance and consultancy services etc.

The project will cost approximately EUR 4.42 million out of which the KfW contribution will be to the tune of EUR 3.41 million. The time schedule for the preparation, implementation and operation of the project is 36 months from the date of signing of agreement.

The health department being the project executing agency shall be responsible for the overall supervision of the project through a Project Monitoring Unit (PMU).

It will notify a construction tender committee, launch the tender, endorse the tender evaluation report, sign contracts and approve payments to the contractors for the construction of the RBCs and nominate an authorized representative who shall be responsible for overall project implementation and cooperation with KfW. Speaking on the occasion, Shahram Tarakai termed the MoU a milestone achieved in the safe transfusion of blood and said that the project when completed will regulate blood transfusion in the province, ensure safe blood to the needy ones and thus help save precious human lives.

He appreciated KfW for its cooperation being extended to the provincial government for improving health care service delivery in the province and assured full support of his government in the smooth completion of all such projects.