Academy
Optimizing Global Blood Safety in Cameroon Workshop
Lyonga Kharim Charles
Fonkou Steve
Over the last seven decades in Cameroon, blood transfusion service has played a major role in improving healthcare and contributed to advancing knowledge in the field of transfusion medicine especially in Africa. In spite of the trend seen in the proportion of voluntary blood donors in Cameroon over the last 5 years from 9.8% to 26.5%, it is a very long journey towards achieving 100% VNRBD.
Moreover with the needs of over 400,000 blood units actually required, less than half of this is collected. In addition, with a paucity of experts in the transfusion field, this little scare resource is not appropriately used. In a bid to overcome these obstacles, this two-day workshop was organized as an ISBT academy event converging fifty-one participants from seven of the ten regions of Cameroon from fourteen hospitals, four voluntary blood donation organizations, and representatives of the National Blood Transfusion Service (NBTS).
Professor Mbanya Dora (general manager, NBTS) delivering keynote address to participants
The participants included healthcare students (medicine, medical laboratory Sciences), nurses (transfusion practitioners and anaesthetists), general practitioners, internists, medical laboratory scientists, members of voluntary blood donors’ organizations, a health journalist and communication specialist. This event was organized by the Health Education and Research Organization (HERO) Cameroon, hosted by the Cameroon Baptist Convention Health Services (CBCHS) at the Resource centre for excellence in Yaoundé, and chaperoned by the NBTS on April 18th and 19th 2024.
The workshop had two modules with distinct themes running from 7:30am to 5pm each day, and a corresponding chairperson for each day. A plenary a day comprised three presentations, a brief team building session, followed by a one-hour breakout session into five groups, all these in the morning-afternoon sessions. The afternoon-evening sessions involved presentation of the group work exercises, open discussions and a case presentation from Baptist Hospital Mutengene’s (BHM) experience on the two themes for the participants to have practical insights on how to apply the knowledge gained. There was a pre and post-test survey for the two days, and feedback via Google forms. At the end of the training, a post training engagement form was filled by the participants indicating how they aimed to apply and use the knowledge gained. This was done to ensure proper post-seminar follow-up.
Group picture with facilitators and participants during handing-over of certificates
“Improving voluntary blood donors’ recruitment and retention: The How and the when” was the theme of day one, chaired by the current and pioneer general manager of the NBTS—Professor Mbanya Dora. The aim of this day was to equip and empower participants with relevant skills in VNRBD recruitment and retention. Following the welcome speech from the Director of Health Services of the CBCHS, Professor Tih Pius, ensued the keynote address from Pr. Mbanya. Dora. Both messages highlighted the pertinence and timeliness of such a session. Furthermore, the participants were exhorted to disseminate the knowledge so-obtained back at their various work stations. Our three-fold specific goals included: Understanding the gap and importance of attaining 100% VNRBD in Cameroon, rendering the donor recruitment process efficient in blood banks & optimizing voluntary blood donors’ associations. These were beautifully presented by M. Dora, Dongmo Armelle and Fonkou Steve respectively. Mbanya gave the participants insights on the history of blood transfusion in Cameroon, highlighted the role of the NBTS and giving its current state and perspectives towards attaining 100% VNRBD.
Dongmo A. discussed the theory of planned behaviour and how this should be used in donor recruitment and retention. Finally, Fonkou highlighted on the use of gap analysis and the 3R’s (Remind, routine and reward) strategy in optimizing voluntary blood donors’ association. A short team building session was done to introduce this heterogeneous set of five groups into the group work with a game called the “human knot”. The group work involved a practical case scenario on how to improve VNRBD in a hospital context with a specific need. The group interactions and discussions were enthralling. The day ended with a case presentation on “The impact of the voluntary blood donors’ association on the healthcare system in BHM.
Participants doing group work presentations
“Patient Blood Management and clinical transfusion” was the theme of the second day, chaired by the eminent Jean-Baptiste Tapko. This second day of the workshop focused on equipping participants with relevant skills in patient blood management concepts, appropriate blood (WB and pRBCs) use in specific patient populations, and transfusion reactions. After his keynote speech, Jean-Baptiste T. engaged the participants on the key concepts of PBM (the 3 pillars) and the paradox of the life-saving procedure (transfusion reactions). This specifically sought to attain the set objectives: to understand the role of PBM in global blood safety, and to know how to prevent, recognize and manage blood transfusion reactions. The 3rd objective aimed at training participants on relevant and updated blood transfusion protocols was achieved via Fonkou Steve’s presentation on “blood transfusion algorithms: The when and how”. He pointed out some myths existent in the current practice of blood transfusion, discussed transfusion strategies of pRBCs in adults, neonates, paediatrics, sickle-cell patients and surgical patients. Thereafter, breaking out into teamwork led participants to discuss on the benefits and disadvantages of PBM in specific people groups such as public health, physicians, blood bankers, blood donors. They also critically set forth arguments on whether improved access to healthcare favours PBM and/or blood transfusion practices. The day was closed with a case presentation from BHM on how to improve PBM uptake with the results showed.
Group picture with chairperson (Mbanya D), facilitators (Dongmo A and Fonkou S.) and participants
The closing rite was marked by distribution of certificates to participants and their signing of the post training engagement document to ensure a follow-up on implementation of this. Overall the participants were extremely satisfied and patiently await the next training to continue on the uphill task of defeating obstacles. Global blood safety is paramount and this, the participants clearly identified with this objective aligned by the ISBT. A special request from the delegates was to organize trainings to hospital administrators and hospital management team on the importance of functioning hospital transfusion committees. Thanks to the ISBT Academy foundation for supporting this event.
Optimizing Global Blood Safety in Cameroon Workshop held on the 18th and 19th of April 2024
ISBT Academy Support
ARE YOU ORGANIZING AN EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITY AFTER APRIL 1, 2025?
Applications for the support of educational events held after April 2025
Apply for ISBT Academy Support, which is available for educational activities, the use of the ISBT logo and the ISBT endorsement of an existing educational course.
- Applications from countries in the Low, Lower Middle or Upper Middle World Bank Index categories are eligible
- Organisations from High Income Countries can only request financial support if it is intended to support the attendance of a participant from an eligible country, or if the HIC is hosting an educational activity in an eligible host country.
Each organization can only submit one application for financial support in a given year and can request to use the ISBT logo as many times as required.
