The Hidden Lifeline – Blood Security and Africa’s Health Agenda
As the world commemorates World Blood Donor Day, the urgent need for safe blood in Africa is brought to the forefront.
Dr. Allan Pamba, Executive Vice President, Diagnostics, Africa, at Roche Diagnostics, emphasizes the importance of blood security in saving lives and promoting public health.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the median blood donation rate in high-income countries is 31.5 donations per 1,000 people, compared to 5.0 donations per 1,000 people in low-income countries. This disparity highlights the need for increased blood donations and improved blood safety in Africa.
Dr. Pamba notes that diagnostics play a critical role in ensuring blood safety. Innovative screening processes and technologies, such as Nucleic Acid Testing (NAT) and serology testing solutions, can help improve the safety and availability of blood. Some countries, like Rwanda and South Africa, have made progress in this area, using drones to distribute screened blood to remote areas and implementing robust screening protocols.
Dr. Pamba calls on partners from the public and private sectors to commit to investing in the entire blood-donor chain, from collection to distribution. He emphasizes the need for increased domestic financing for health, robust universal health insurance coverage, and strengthened laboratory and diagnostic capacity. By working together, Africa can build a more resilient healthcare system and ensure that safe blood is available to those who need it.
Countries like Kenya are showing leadership by integrating disease screening into Universal Health Coverage (UHC) pathways. Dr. Pamba believes that implementing NAT and serology testing solutions more widely in Africa can improve stock levels and diminish deaths related to lack of safe blood.
As the world celebrates World Blood Donor Day, Dr. Pamba urges individuals to consider donating blood and challenges healthcare businesses, policymakers, and medical decision-makers to ensure that their gift goes as far as it can. By mustering the political will, forging strategic partnerships, and investing in the whole blood-donor chain, Africa can create a brighter future for its citizens and ensure that safe blood is a lifeline that is available to all.
