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Safe Blood Transfusion Programme set to move into second phase

By Jamila Achakzai
May 27, 2016

Islamabad

Having successfully completed the first phase with the German support, the Safe Blood Transfusion Programme is set to move into the second phase with an aim to ensure the people’s better access to non-hazardous blood products and transfusion services.

In the first phase spanning over six years, the programme developed many regulatory and operational tools before introducing them in blood centres, educated stakeholders on the concepts of hemovigilance and blood safety, carried out activities on safe blood transfusion along with donors through a coordinated approach, and developed harmonised policies and strategies under the National Blood Policy and Strategy Framework. The nationwide infrastructure development, establishment of 10 new regional blood centres, and upgradation of 60 blood banks were also part of its activities amid numerous financial and administrative challenges.

Now as the programme’s next phase spread over three years is slated to get underway next month, the access of the country’s 30 per cent population to quality blood, the centre’s coordination with provinces for the introduction of uniform blood safety laws, provision of laboratory equipment to blood banks, improvement of the hazardous medical waste’s management, development of a central blood transfusion information system, training of transfusion personnel, and campaigns for voluntary and non-remunerated blood donation have been planned with the support of the German government through KfW and GIZ.

This piece of information was shared by noted haematologist and SBTP national manager Professor Hasan Abbas Zaheer with this correspondent on the sidelines of a World Blood Donor Day seminar on Thursday.

The event was organised by the SBTP in collaboration with the Mir Khalil-ur-Rehman Memorial Society to thank voluntary blood donors, create wider public awareness of regular, voluntary blood donations, and motivate those who have not donated blood yet, especially youths.

Leading woman MNA of the ruling PML-N Maiza Hameed Gujjar chaired the seminar, where people from all walks of life from public health experts to policymakers to medical practitioners to social activists were in attendance.

Professor Hasan outlined the national strategy for the promotion of voluntary blood donation in the country as articulated in the National Blood Policy.

According to him, the strategy suggests the conversion of suitable and healthy ‘family replacement donors’ into ‘regular voluntary donors’ during their interaction with blood banks for donation.

“The strategy also calls for the strengthening of educational institutions-based blood donor organisations existing all over the country. These organisations managed by committed and energetic youths contribute to the voluntary blood donor pool but their true potential remains unlocked due to lack of proper technical guidance and supervision,” he said.

The SBTP national manager also said better public awareness of voluntary blood donation and blood safety was an integral part of the initiate to increase national reliance on voluntary blood donations.

He said the programme had become the ‘national voice of blood safety’ due to the efforts of its management and the commitment of stakeholders both at national and international levels to the cause.

“Our programme has picked up pace during the last three years with the continued support of German partners, including KfW and GIZ. It has also attracted other development partners and their contributions such as WHO, USAID, Red Crescent, ISBT and AATM and the German Red Cross at national and regional levels,” he said.

Professor Hasan said the government was fully supported the blood transfusion programme and was committed to its execution.

“The prime minister is taking special interest in the programme and has granted a special tax exemption for it,” he said.

The SBTP national manager also praised President Mamnoon Hussain for supporting the programme.

PML-N MNA Maiza Hameed appreciated the safe blood programme’s leadership for rendering invaluable services for providing safe blood to the community. He appreciated the role of Professor Hassan in steering the project with exemplary skills and successfully overcoming the challenges, which, she said, invariably arose in such pioneer projects.

She said the blood safety programme was the dire need of the time and that its remarkable accomplishments needed to be acknowledged, appreciated and replicated in other development projects.

The lawmaker extended the government’s full support for and commitment to the programme’s implementation.

She also thanked the German government for supporting the key health initiative and said the role of KFW and GIZ to ensure the smooth execution of the project along with the federal and provincial counterparts was commendable.

Mir Khalil-ur-Rehman Memorial Society Chairman Wasif Nagi, who was also in attendance, called for voluntary blood donations and said the people should donate blood regularly instead of waiting for emergencies.

“Patients should not be asked to arrange donors. This can easily be done if young people come forward and regularly donate blood,” he said.

Wasif Nagi praised Professor Hassan for ‘doing an excellent job in promoting voluntary blood donations’ and said his efforts must be appreciated, encouraged and supported at all levels.

“The Safe Blood Transfusion Programme is one of the rare success stories among donor-funded projects. The German government’s funding for it is tremendous. The Pakistani federal and provincial governments must extend full support to this programme so that the people get better access to safe blood for transfusion,” he said stressing the need for promoting voluntary donations and thanking donors.

Noted among other speakers were KFW representative Dr. Masooma Zaidi, Green Task Force president Dr. Jamal Nasir, Federalites Blood Donor Society president Dr. Ubaid Hasnain, regular voluntary blood donor Colonel Zafar, consultant hematologist at the Holy Family Hospital Rawalpindi Professor Atifa Shoaib, PRCS director (health) Dr. Muhiuddin and Alaqsa Welfare Organisation president Mr. Abdul Hameed, who called people for blood donations to prevent shortages.

They also stressed the need for blood safety system reforms for the development of blood sector in the country.