In 2011, the UN and Government of Bangladesh launched a joint maternal and neonatal health initiative (MNHI) with the aim of reducing maternal and neonatal morbidity and mortality, by improving availability of and access to quality maternal and neonatal health services. Under the technical guidance of WHO, the project was implemented in 11 districts in Bangladesh including Thakurgaon, Jamalpur, Narail, Moulvibazar, Bagerhat, Barguna, Patuakhali, Sirajgonj, Rangamati, Panchagarh and Sunamgonj. The project ended on 30th June 2016.
In order to save lives, a good blood transfusion service is vital. To this end, the main activities carried out in the 11 districts during this four-year project included a needs assessment in 11 blood transfusion centres (including the upazila health complexes), training of blood transfusion staff, review and update of blood donor motivation guidelines, development of blood donor directories for each district, orientation of superintendents, training of upazila health and family planning officers and medical officers of upazila health complexes on quality management of blood transfusion services, orientation of physician and nursing staff on clinical use of blood, community awareness on voluntary blood donation, external quality assessment of blood screening, training on implementation of standard operating procedures, training of blood transfusion staff on testing transfusion-transmissible infections and quality management. Additionally, kits for blood screening, blood grouping reagent, blood bags, small equipment and laboratory furniture were supplied to 11 district hospitals and 20 upazila health complexes.
Current status of blood transfusion services
A summary of activities carried out during the project and key data was presented at a meeting. In 2015, a total of 6 lakh 80 units of blood were collected in Bangladesh, 30 per cent of which was collected through voluntary donations. Twenty per cent of the collected blood was converted into blood components. The blood was used in 319 blood transfusion centres located in both public and private sector facilities.
All units of blood collected in the 11 MNHI district hospitals were tested using rapid testing devices and seroprevalence markers for five transfusion transmissible infections including hepatitis B virus, hepatitis C virus, syphilis, malaria and HIV/AIDS. The prevalence of these infections was found to be below one per cent.
During the project period, 11 district and 74 upazila health complexes were assessed. Shortage of manpower, inadequate infrastructure and lack of equipment were found to be major concerns for ensuring blood safety. Additional limitations to ensuring safe blood transfusion services at the district level include lack of local supervision of clinical transfusion practice, inadequate organization of awareness campaign and recruitment of voluntary blood donors, lack of coordination with local voluntary blood donor organizations and interrupted logistics supply. The current status of blood transfusion services in the 11 districts and progress made were shared with the safe blood transfusion programme management unit.
