Senegal will host, for the first time, the Congress of the African Blood Transfusion Society. An international meeting that will allow the identification of harmonized protocols for better blood care. During a press conference, in view of this conclave, the director Senegal’s National Blood Transfusion Center also warned for an annual gap of 60,000 blood bags that would need to be resolved to achieve self-sufficiency in Senegal.
Each year, Senegal records a gap of 60,000 blood bags to meet the demand of the population in order to save lives. Information provided by the director of the National Blood Transfusion Center of Senegal (CNTS), Professor Saliou Diop, yesterday, Tuesday 13 September, during a press conference to announce the 10th Congress of the African Blood Transfusion Society in Senegal from 19 to 22 September. For the teacher,Senegal’s annual blood demand is estimated at 170,000 bags. In 2021, only 110 miles are collected nationwide“.
A situation that will make him say:we have a relatively young population, more than half. However, the culture of blood donation is not on their record. We have requests, women of prenatal age, victims of road accidents, people living with chronic diseases need them. It is a need and young people must do more to raise awareness to regulate self-sufficiency in the blood“The shortage of blood products is particularly acute, according to the CNTS, in regions where hospital blood banks are not sufficiently equipped to recruit a sufficient number of blood donors.
A CONGRESS TAKEN FOR THE FIRST TIME IN FRENCH AFRICA
The director of the CNTS also announced the Congress of the African Blood Transfusion Society whose 10th edition will be held in Senegal. A congress whose mission is to uphold the highest ethical and professional standards and expertise in blood transfusions on the African continent, in order to enable the establishment of safe, universally accessible and sustainable national blood transfusion programs in participating countries. For this edition the chosen theme is: “Blood transfusion and priorities in Africa”.
In order for Professor Tandakha Dièye, immunologist, to talk about blood transfusion and priorities, three criteria must be met, including safe quality blood, blood self-sufficiency but also meeting the demand. “Africa must be able to donate more blood, but these derivatives. In Senegal, on blood derivatives, we are working on plasma, platelets and islands“, Professor Dièye informed.
And Professor Diop adds: “reflections will be made on the best global strategies to improve transfusion safety and self-sufficiency of quality blood products, with a view to reducing maternal and infant mortality and increasing“. For this congress between the French Blood Establishment and the directors of the Francophone African Centers, Professor Diop explained:”400 people will take part on behalf of Senegal“. And to remember:our country was chosen to host this meeting because of the infrastructures, the availability of human resources but also the organization“.
Denise ZAROUR MEDANG
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