Safe Blood Starts with Me - libdoc.who.int - World Health Organization
Safe Blood Starts with Me - libdoc.who.int - World Health Organization
Safe Blood Starts with Me - libdoc.who.int - World Health Organization
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SAFE BLOOD STARTS WITH ME – BLOOD SAVES LIVESHondurasBackgroundIn Latin America it is estimatedthat more than 10% of transfusedblood is collected from paiddonors. Honduras has beenworking very hard to improve thesafety of its blood supply, notablythrough the Honduran Red Cross<strong>Blood</strong> Programme, that has beenactively recruiting and retainingvoluntary non-remunerated blooddonors since 1978.In 1994, the Ministry of <strong>Health</strong>designated the Red Cross’ <strong>Me</strong>dicalDirector to be Secretary Generalof the National <strong>Blood</strong> Council.Together, they have developed thelegal framework for a bloodtransfusion system that includes anational policy and plan, as wellas norms and regulations on theprovision of safe and adequateblood supplies for the <strong>who</strong>lecountry. By the end of the year2000, the Red Cross bloodprogramme, which processes alldonated blood, was collecting,processing and testing about30,000 units per year from thetwo main cities.<strong>World</strong> <strong>Health</strong> Day 2000At the end of 1999, the HonduranNational <strong>Blood</strong> Council developeda plan for a year-long celebrationon the theme of <strong>Safe</strong> <strong>Blood</strong>, thehighlights of which are describedbelow.<strong>Blood</strong> donors reading aboutaltruistic donationPlanningSix months before the <strong>World</strong><strong>Health</strong> Day launch, informationmaterial was developed andwidely distributed, includingposters, pamphlets, stickers andpress articles.<strong>Me</strong>mbers of the National <strong>Blood</strong>Council appeared on televisionand gave radio presentations <strong>int</strong>he weeks leading up to <strong>World</strong><strong>Health</strong> Day to sensitize the public<strong>with</strong> key blood safety messages.Participants in the events belowincluded representatives from theMinistry of <strong>Health</strong>, the National<strong>Blood</strong> Council, the Honduran RedCross, the InternationalFederation of Red Cross and RedCrescent Societies and the WHOPan American <strong>Health</strong><strong>Organization</strong>. There was greatenthusiasm from all participantsand the general public in thecelebration of <strong>World</strong> <strong>Health</strong> Day.Graduation CeremonyThe pilot project for the WHO/PAHO Distance LearningProgramme was initiated in 1997following a regional workshop inEl Salvador. The programme wasformalized <strong>with</strong> an agreementbetween the Ministry of <strong>Health</strong>and one of the local universities.Seven students took part in theprogramme over a period of sixmonths. These participants then37 ▲ WORLD HEALTH DAY ▼ SAFE BLOOD STARTS WITH ME
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