In the vast and diverse continent of Africa, where health challenges are widespread, there is a critical issue that often goes unnoticed: the limited access to safe blood.  

While much attention is given to improving healthcare infrastructure, access to medications, and disease prevention, the significance of safe blood cannot be understated. It is the life force that sustains medical interventions, surgeries, and emergency treatments. However, the scarcity of safe blood in Africa poses a significant threat to the overall health and well-being of its population.  

Globally, nearly 5 million people globally die from trauma each year, with approximately 1/3 of these deaths occurring within 48 hours due to blood loss.1It is time decisionmakers recognize the urgency of addressing blood and implement robust measures to ensure a steady, accessible and safe supply throughout the continent.

Safe blood transfusion is an essential component of modern medical care. It saves countless lives and plays a pivotal role in the treatment of a wide range of medical conditions, including severe injuries, complications during childbirth, and chronic diseases such as anaemia (malaria anaemia, malnutrition anaemia and sickle cell anaemia).  Unfortunately, Africa faces numerous challenges in establishing and maintaining an adequate blood supply chain, resulting in lack of access and availability. 35 out of 48 countries collect less than half of the blood needed to meet their transfusion demand in Sub-Saharan Africa.2 This scarcity is often compounded by unsafe blood practices, including the use of untested or poorly screened blood, which puts patients at risk of contracting life-threatening infections such as HIV, Hepatitis B and C, and Syphilis.

One of the key reasons for the inadequate supply of safe blood in Africa is the lack of voluntary blood donations. Unlike many developed countries where voluntary blood donation is the norm, Africa heavily relies on replacement donors. These donors are usually family members or friends of the patient in need. The levels of donation in Africa are at 5 per 1000 population as compared to 47 per 1000 population in the USA.3  The reliance on replacement donors is problematic for several reasons. Firstly, it places an additional burden on the patient's social network, adding emotional and financial strain during already challenging times. Secondly, family replacement donors often have a higher prevalence of infections compared to voluntary donors, further increasing the risk of transmitting diseases.4 Encouraging voluntary blood donation, funding donations and establishing efficient blood donor recruitment programs should be a top priority for African countries In addition to the replacement donor overreliance, inadequate infrastructure and logistical challenges pose significant barriers to ensuring a safe blood supply chain. Many African countries lack the necessary facilities for safe blood collection, storage, testing, and distribution. This results in blood shortages, as well as the improper handling and storage of blood products, leading to increased risks of contamination and spoilage.5

To address these issues, African governments need to invest in strengthening healthcare systems, with a specific focus on blood transfusion services. This includes establishing well-equipped blood banks, improving transportation networks for blood delivery, and implementing quality assurance systems to ensure the safety and efficacy of blood products. 

Robust regulatory framework, along with increased training of skilled healthcare professionals, is crucial for guaranteeing the safety of blood transfusions. African countries must adopt and enforce stringent standards for screening, testing, and processing donated blood, including mandatory testing for infectious diseases like HIV, Hepatitis, and Syphilis. It is essential to ensure the availability of reliable testing technologies across the continent. Regulatory bodies should actively monitor and audit blood banks to ensure compliance with safety protocols and maintain a high standard of quality. 

Simultaneously, investing in training programs that enhance the skills and knowledge of healthcare professionals involved in blood transfusions is vital. These programs should cover proper collection, storage, transportation, testing procedures, and adherence to safety protocols. By combining a robust regulatory framework with increased training, African countries can significantly improve the safety of blood transfusions, promote public trust, and ultimately save lives. 

Private sector collaborations like the Coalition of Blood for Africa (CoBA) have the potential to play a pivotal role in addressing the challenge of safe and adequate blood in Africa. By partnering with government agencies and non-profit organizations, private entities can bring valuable expertise, resources, and innovation to the table. For instance, pharmaceutical companies can contribute by supporting the establishment and modernization of blood transfusion centers, ensuring the availability of state-of-the-art equipment and technologies for screening and processing blood. 

Logistics companies can lend their expertise to improve transportation networks, facilitating the timely and efficient delivery of blood products to hospitals and clinics in remote areas. Additionally, collaborations with private healthcare providers can help raise awareness about voluntary blood donation, encourage their staff and patients to become donors, and establish sustainable donor recruitment programs. Such private sector engagements have the potential to strengthen Africa's health systems and ensure a steady supply of safe blood, ultimately saving countless lives across the continent. 

Collaborative efforts can help establish sustainable blood transfusion networks, improve training and education for healthcare professionals, and facilitate the exchange of best practices in blood safety. 

In conclusion, a vital ingredient to good health remains elusive – safe blood. With a scarcity of this life-saving resource and an inefficient supply chain, patients across Africa face daunting risks. To conquer this pressing challenge, African governments must join forces with the private sector to prioritize the enhancement of blood transfusion and donation systems. By ensuring that every patient in need has access to this fundamental resource, Africa can unlock its true health potential and pave the way to a brighter, healthier future.

In the vast and diverse continent of Africa, where health challenges are widespread, there is a critical issue that often goes unnoticed: the limited access to safe blood.  

While much attention is given to improving healthcare infrastructure, access to medications, and disease prevention, the significance of safe blood cannot be understated. It is the life force that sustains medical interventions, surgeries, and emergency treatments. However, the scarcity of safe blood in Africa poses a significant threat to the overall health and well-being of its population.  

  1. World Health Organization. Blood Safety and Availability. Retrieved from https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/blood-safety-and-availability   
  2. https://www.afro.who.int/health-topics/blood-safety 
  3. Roberts, N., James, S., Delaney, M., & Fitzmaurice, C. (2019). The global need and availability of blood products: a modelling study. The Lancet Haematology, 6(12), e606-e615.
  4. Azevedo, M. J., & Azevedo, M. J. (2017). The state of health system (s) in Africa: challenges and opportunities. Historical perspectives on the state of health and health systems in Africa, volume II: the modern era, 1-73.
  5. Rambiritch, V., Vermeulen, M., Bell, H., Knox, P., Nedelcu, E., Al‐Riyami, A. Z., ... & Education Subcommittee of the AABB Global Transfusion Forum. (2021). Transfusion medicine and blood banking education and training for blood establishment laboratory staff: A review of selected countries in Africa. Transfusion, 61(6), 1955-1965.