ACCRA, Ghana, October 16 /PRNewswire/ --
An International Blood Safety Workshop on the crucial role of "DevelopingVoluntary Blood Donor Programs" was held in Accra, Ghana, October 2 to 13,2006 for 16 West and Central African countries. These workshops, organized bySafe Blood for Africa Foundation's Multi-Country Training Program, funded byPEPFAR (The President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief) and CDC, were held incollaboration with the World Health Organization, International Federation ofRed Cross and Red Crescent Societies, the Ministry of Health of Ghana and theGhana National Blood Transfusion Service. The two back-to-back workshops wereheld in French and English respectively.
"This program will save lives by increasing the availability of blood,and reducing the risk of HIV/AIDS and other blood-borne diseases intransfused blood," according to Safe Blood for Africa's Chairman, Jeff Busch."We are grateful to PEPFAR/CDC for providing funding for us to conduct theseprograms in areas of Africa which have historically received little supportfor blood safety initiatives."
These workshops are "precedent-setting" as they brought together decisionmakers, blood service directors and blood donor recruitment staff from the 16countries represented. Fifty-seven participants attended, many of whom havelittle opportunity for such specific training and to interact withprofessionals from other countries.
It is also the first in a series of such programs on key blood safetyskills development being conducted by Safe Blood for Africa Foundation'sAfrican Multi-Country Training Program.
Diane De Coning, internationally recognized expert in blood donorrecruitment who conducted the workshops, said, "Delegate response wastremendous. Key donor recruitment staff shared common challenges inrecruiting and retaining adequate numbers of voluntary blood donors. Weidentified priorities for the region, including the need for an African BloodDonor Association and ready access to much needed and requested genericpromotional material for adaptation by local blood transfusion services.Implementing the strategies developed at these workshops will have a majorimpact in meeting the demand for a safe and adequate blood supply in theparticipating countries. Additional capacity building and resources aredesperately required, but this was a phenomenal way to start."
Safe Blood for Africa Foundation
Carole Cones-Bradfield, +1-202-204-2570, for Safe Blood for Africa Foundation
