Academy
Training on Blood Safety in Haiti
The Association of Licensed Medical Technologists of Haiti (ATMLH), with the support of ISBT, organised a three-day training for the benefit of Haitian health professionals from the 22nd to 24th of April 2024. The training took place in a hybrid workshop covered the theme on “Blood Transfusion Services in Haiti: Standards, Practices and Ethics”.
The overall objective of this training was to strengthen the skills of health professionals in blood transfusion services, to improve understanding of safety and quality protocols, raise awareness of the importance of voluntary blood donation, develop skills in inventory management and ethical decision-making, and facilitate the exchange of good practices between Haitian professionals.
ATMLH took the proactive decision to launch the first day of training earlier than planned, given the volatile security situation in the country. All participants were punctual, registered and ready to start at 10:00 AM. The event brought together 22 participants in person and 3 participants online. The session began with the speech from the ATMLH Coordinator, Rosemond Blanc. In his speech, the ATMLH Coordinator, warmly welcomed all the participants, emphasizing the capital importance of this training. He highlighted the specific challenges faced in Haiti's blood transfusion system and expressed gratitude to all participants for their commitment to improving this crucial area of health care.
The session began with an introduction to transfusion services, where participants were able to understand the vital issues related to an adequate blood supply, the history of blood transfusion services in Haiti and the relationship between blood availability and public health. Next, a session on clinical indicators for transfusion allowed participants to familiarize themselves with the different emergency needs for labile blood products.
The afternoon was devoted to blood collection and donor recruitment. It was a very lively session. Participants learned about the importance of safety protocols in blood collection and storage, as well as the international standards that govern these practices. Interactive discussions and practical exercises allowed participants to deepen their understanding and exchange ideas with trainers and other participants.
Course participants in a face to face session
The second day of training began with a recap of the first day and participant registration, followed by a series of modules focused on blood collection, processing and testing. The morning began with Module 4, which covered blood collection techniques, separation and processing of blood components, and quality controls. Participants had the opportunity to familiarize themselves with CUSO4 and deepen their understanding of the processes involved in blood collection and processing.
After the break, Module 5 focused on blood testing and screening, covering infectious disease testing, laboratory techniques, and quality assurance. Interactive discussions allowed participants to ask questions and share their experiences.
Training in session
The afternoon was devoted to module 6, which covered storage, transport and management of blood stocks. Participants learned best practices for blood storage, inventory management and contingency planning, and had the opportunity to simulate inventory management to strengthen their skills. This module was prepared by Mr Abdias charlotin, university professor and Medical technologist, on an online platform and the participants learned a lot about the storage and transport of PSLs. The day concluded with a question-and-answer and evaluation session, giving participants the opportunity to reflect on what they learned and ask additional questions of the trainer.
The third day of the training began with a recap of the second day and registration of participants, followed by a series of modules focusing on blood transfusion in specific populations, promotion of voluntary blood donation, ethical aspects and standards of blood transfusion, as well as program evaluation and quality improvement.
The morning session began with module 7, which covered blood transfusion in specific populations such as children and pregnant women, as well as the management of transfusion emergencies. Participants had the opportunity to discuss the unique challenges and best practices for transfusion in these settings.
After the break, Module 8 focused on promoting voluntary blood donation, with an emphasis on community mobilization, awareness campaigns and local partnerships. Participants explored effective strategies to encourage voluntary blood donation and discussed ways to overcome potential barriers.
The afternoon was devoted to Module 9, which examined the ethical and legal aspects of blood transfusion, including informed consent, patients' rights and specific ethical dilemmas. Participants were encouraged to reflect on ethical issues and explore ethical solutions for complex situations.
Finally, the day concluded with Module 10, which focused on program evaluation and quality improvement. Participants learnt how to set up mechanisms for evaluating transfusion services, apply continuous quality improvement strategies and develop action plans to improve services.
The day ended with a closing session, the presentation of certificates to participants and a final evaluation of the program. We would like to thank ISBT for their support and making this training possible.
Group photo of course participants
