JamzNG Latest News, Gist, Entertainment in Nigeria
In partnership with the WHO and the USAID, the MoH officially commemorated World Blood Donor Day on Friday, 14 June 2024.
By Lincoln G. Peters
Monrovia, June 17, 2024: The World Health Organization (WHO), through its Regional Director, Dr Matshidiso Moeti, has urged countries to address the persistent challenges in the availability of safe blood and blood products.
The Ministry of Health in partnership with the WHO, and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) officially commemorated World Blood Donor Day on Friday, 14 June 2024.
This 20th anniversary aimed at fitting to reflect on achievements, address challenges and envision a future where safe blood transfusion is universally accessible.
It comes with the reminder that the health of blood donors and the quality of care accorded to them is critical in encouraging them and building the commitment and willingness to donate blood regularly.
Liberia joined the world in celebration of this day due to a proclamation issued by President Joseph Nyumah Boakai declaring the day a working holiday.
The program which brought together hundreds of blood donors and volunteers was held under the Theme: “Increasing voluntary non-paid blood donation to ensure access to safe blood in Liberia.”
In her special remark which was read by Dr. Moses Jeuronlon, WHO Strategic Health Information Affairs said that blood transfusion plays a critical role in the provision of lifesaving health care.
According to him, vulnerable people, such as mothers during childbirth, under-nourished and malaria-affected children, victims of trauma and accidents, and patients suffering from sickle cell and other chronic diseases, particularly benefit from this care.
“We sincerely thank our Member States for their efforts. Despite these improvements, countries must address the persistent challenges in the availability of safe blood and blood products.”
“I urged our Member States to uphold the blood regulatory systems we’ve put in place and set up a special national time to inspire citizens to donate blood,” Dr. Jeuronlon added.
He however encouraged donor organizations to support their capacity-building efforts for efficient National Blood Transfusion Services while recommending that communities support those who donate blood to encourage others to donate.
The WHO Strategic Health Information Affairs specialist added that this has the potential to create an exponential increase in the availability of life-saving donor blood when and where it is needed most.
He further urged that through collective efforts, they must raise adequate and sustainable funding, continue to build systems and capacities to increase blood donation rates, and separate donated blood into its components that can be stored for long-term use.
The WHO Strategic Health Information Affairs specialist added that currently, African countries collect only 5.2 units of blood for every 1000 people, below the ten donations or more per 1000 people recommended by WHO and far from the 33 units of blood per 1000 people collected in developed countries.
He lamented that in addition, only 18 out of 472 countries had reached the regional target of at least 80% of blood supply from Voluntary Non-Remunerated Blood Donors.
Yet, the demand for blood remains constant, while the supply often falls short.
“In the past decade, we have provided technical and financial support to our Member States in their efforts to improve blood products availability, quality, and safety by developing and implementing policies, strategic plans, norms, standards, and guidelines.”
Dr. Jeuronlon further disclosed that they have engaged in building the capacity of national regulatory authorities and National Blood Transfusion Services to execute the effective regulatory oversight and coordination needed to ensure the implementation of quality standards.
He stated that they have also worked in strengthening collaboration with partners to promote WHO leadership in developing and implementing best practices in blood quality and safety in the region.
Dr . Jeuronlon stated that the percentage of countries participating in an external quality assessment scheme for transfusion-transmissible infections (TTIs) increased from 55.3% to 62.2%.
“Our Member States in the African Region have made significant progress between 2015 and 20221-3. The number of countries that have fully developed a national blood policy increased from 37 in 2015 to 43 in 2022.”
“The average number of blood units collected per 1000 population increased from 4.5 to 5.2 compared to the regional target of 10 units per 1000 population,” he noted.
