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 LIVESEgyptChallenges facing theblood programmeHistorically, blood transfusionservices (BTS) have always had alow priority <strong>with</strong>in the Egyptianhealth care system. Lack ofgovernmental attention andsupport, and no centralized—orregionalized—programme meantthat the BTS were primitive andfragmented. Few blood centrescould meet the needs for blood,either quantitatively orqualitatively and blood was onlydonated in a patient-basedemergency, 90% of which camefrom family relatives. Thissituation was exacerbated by thegrowing commercialisation ofblood. The scope of vision and acompetent and credible nationalblood service that could equalother medical disciplinesremained a pipe dream for quitesome time.Egyptian-Swissturning po<strong>int</strong>In 1997, the Minister of <strong>Health</strong>and Population spearheaded arevolution in blood transfusionservices <strong>with</strong> a view to <strong>int</strong>egratingthis vital facility <strong>int</strong>o the emerginghealth care system. A turningpo<strong>int</strong> was the agreement, signedNational <strong>Blood</strong> Transfusion Centrein this year, between the EgyptianMinistry of <strong>Health</strong> and the Swissgovernment to implement aproject to restructure and upgradethe BTS as a priority.Centralization of the BTS was thefirst objective of the Egyptian-Swiss project. The plan was toestablish one central, or national<strong>Blood</strong> Transfusion Centre, eightregional centres and 30 districtblood banks that would graduallyreplace the old fragmented system<strong>with</strong> a viable blood programme. Toachieve this ambitious objective,the Ministry of <strong>Health</strong> andPopulation is implementing thefollowing strategy:— the National <strong>Blood</strong> TransfusionCentre, supported by theGeneral Directorate of <strong>Blood</strong>Affairs of the Ministry is thecentral body responsible foroverseeing the bloodprogramme. As a centre ofexcellence, it acts as a nationalreference, training anddevelopment centre;— safe blood and blood productsfor transfusion must beavailable to all in need;— paid blood donation wasabolished by Ministerial53 ▲ WORLD HEALTH DAY ▼ SAFE BLOOD STARTS WITH ME
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