Background/Case Studies: Many countries in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) have established a national blood transfusion service (NBTS) using the World Health Organization (WHO) recommendations and guidelines. Approximately 35 SSA countries have reported having a national blood policy however this does not guarantee the countries have published standards.1 Many countries have made progress towards the goal of 100% volunteer donors but there still are not enough volunteer blood donors to support the need. Replacement donation is the most common practice. This practice results in a much higher risk of transfusion transmitted infection (TTI).2 Worldwide, nearly 80% of the 300,000 children born with sickle cell disease occur in SSA.3 Obstetric hemorrhage (OH) and access to peripartum blood transfusion remains a huge challenge.4 The purpose of this collaboration is to support the development of advanced African blood bank and transfusion medicine educators and practitioners in SSA.a
Study
Design/Methods: In 2019 a US University and the University in Rwanda entered into an affiliation agreement to provide the Specialist in Blood Banking (SBB) program to four (now expanded to 6) UGHE designees. Two Rwandan designees enrolled in September 2021 completing the program in August 2022. Currently two Ethiopian designees are enrolled and will finish August 2023, with the final cohort of 2 designees to be enrolled in September 2023. A Biomedical Center, Blood Transfusion Division is the clinical experience site for the antibody detection and identification.
Results/Findings: The first cohort of students enrolled from Rwanda University successfully completed the SBB program in August 2022. The outcomes for the graduates include research and producing publishable papers: • Antigen typing and assessment of unexpected antibodies with their associated clinical conditions among patients and blood donors attending University Teaching Hospital of Kigali and Rwanda Blood Transfusion Division • The Use of Drones to Deliver Blood and Blood Products in Rwanda: A Literature Review Conclusions: The Rwanda university, with the support of a US University, is creating a blood bank/transfusion medicine distance education program which is poised to impact donor and transfusion safety, starting in Rwanda and Ethiopia, but expanding to the other SSA countries. The Rwanda University SBB program graduates will teach theory and best practice guidelines to improve blood donor and patient transfusion safety in SSA. Additionally, it will also support the WHO Strategic framework for blood safety and availability 2016-2025.5 This collaboration has the potential to impact safer blood donation and improved transfusion practices in SSA for many years to come.
Importance of research: The ultimate purpose of this project is to create a blood bank/transfusion medicine distance education program for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is poised to impact donor and transfusion safety, starting in Rwanda and Ethiopia, but expanding to the other SSA countries. This collaboration has the potential to impact safer blood donation and improved transfusion practices in SSA for many years to come.
