Academy
World Hepatitis Day 2026 seminar on prevention of transfusion-transmitted infections
Regional Blood Center (RBC) Swat, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, successfully conducted a two-day educational activity entitled “World Hepatitis Day 2026 Seminar on Prevention of Transfusion-Transmitted Infections: Strengthening Screening Strategies and Advancing Understanding of Blood Screening” on 24–25 July 2026. The activity was organized by the Regional Blood Center Swat, Health Department, Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and supported by the International Society of Blood Transfusion (ISBT) Academy.
The programme combined a dedicated practical training day at RBC Swat with a scientific seminar at hotel Burj Al Swat, on the second day, addressing contemporary issues in hepatitis prevention, transfusion-transmitted infections, laboratory screening, infection prevention, blood safety, regulation, and quality management.
Deligates during registration at the World Hepatitis Day 2026 Seminar. Organised by RBC Swat and supported by ISBT Academy.
Day 1
Practical Training at Regional Blood Center Swat
The first day, held on 24 July 2026 at Regional Blood Center Swat, was planned as an institutional practical orientation for healthcare professionals involved in blood transfusion services. The programme provided participants with an opportunity to understand the organizational structure, quality systems, laboratory practices, the main principles of TTI screening procedures using ICT and CLIA, and the operational workflows of a regional blood center.
The session began with an orientation briefing and overview of RBC Swat services, delivered by Syed Muzammil Shah, Manager, RBC Swat. The session introduced participants to the role and functions of the center and provided an overview of its services and activities.
This was followed by a session on Organizational Structure and Quality System, presented by Shahid Alam, Medical Officer, focusing on the organisational and quality framework supporting the delivery of safe and effective blood transfusion services. Participants subsequently attended a session on Donor Education and Counseling Practices, delivered by Sultan Ahmad, Health Education Officer, highlighting the importance of effective donor communication, education, and pre- and post-donation counseling, including appropriate counseling and follow-up of donors with reactive TTI screening results.
Following a short tea break, the practical orientation continued with Blood Collection and Component Preparation Workflow, presented by Mr. Noor Elahi. The session provided participants with an overview of the workflow associated with blood collection and preparation of blood components. Participants then received an orientation to the TTI Screening Laboratory, with specific focus on ICT and CLIA screening approaches, presented by Mr. Tahir Shah, Clinical Technologist. This session provided an opportunity to understand the laboratory screening processes used at RBC Swat and to consider the practical application of different approaches to transfusion-transmitted infection screening. The morning programme continued with Biosafety and Laboratory Practices, delivered by Shahid Alam, addressing the importance of safe laboratory practices and biosafety within blood transfusion and laboratory environments.
Orientation and Training session for healthcare workers on World Hepatitis Day at Regional Blood Center Swat on Hepatitis Prevention and Transfusion Safety
After lunch, the programme resumed with Blood Storage and Cold Chain Management, presented by Mr. Noor Elahi. The session focused on the importance of appropriate storage conditions and cold-chain practices in maintaining the quality and safety of blood and blood components. The next session, Documentation and Quality Monitoring, was delivered by Syed Muzammil Shah. The session emphasized the importance of documentation, monitoring, and quality-related processes in maintaining consistent and safe transfusion services.
The practical day concluded with an interactive Discussion on Practical Challenges in TTI Prevention, involving a panel of RBC Swat experts, including Syed Muzammil Shah, Shahid Alam, Sultan Ahmad, Mr. Noor Elahi, and Mr. Tahir Shah. The discussion provided an opportunity for participants to raise questions, share experiences, and discuss practical challenges related to the prevention of transfusion-transmitted infections in routine blood transfusion services.
The first day concluded with participant feedback and certificate distribution, providing participants with an opportunity to reflect on the practical training and formally recognize their participation.
Day 2
Scientific Seminar on Hepatitis Prevention and Blood Safety
The second day, held on 25 July 2026, brought together healthcare professionals for a comprehensive scientific seminar focused on transfusion-transmitted infections, hepatitis prevention, blood screening, infection prevention and control, blood safety, and regulatory perspectives. The programme included expert presentations, an interactive multidisciplinary panel discussion, and a dedicated session on key recommendations and the way forward.
The programme commenced with participant registration and seating of invited guests, followed by recitation from the Holy Quran and the National Anthem. Sultan Ahmad of RBC Swat delivered the welcome address, followed by a documentary highlighting the work of Regional Blood Center Swat and a presentation by Noor Elahi on the achievements of RBC Swat.
The scientific sessions began with Usman Waheed, Associate Professor and Principal of Laboratory Sciences, IMDC, who presented “ICT Screening Limitations and Optimal Hepatitis Assay Selection: Balancing Sensitivity, Specificity, Feasibility, and the Principles of CLIA Testing.” The session addressed important considerations in selecting appropriate hepatitis screening strategies while balancing analytical performance, feasibility, and the realities of different healthcare settings.
Group photo of distinguished participants during Orientation and Training Session at RBC Swat on World Hepatitis Day
This was followed by Mumtaz Ali Khan, Chief, Centre for Disease Control (CDC), National Institute of Health (NIH), Islamabad, who presented “Infection Prevention and Control in Hospitals and Blood Centers: Challenges of Communicable Diseases in Pakistan.” The session highlighted the broader importance of infection prevention and control in healthcare and blood transfusion environments.
Faisal Ikram, Gastroenterologist at Saidu Group of Teaching Hospital, Swat, then provided a clinical perspective through his presentation, “Treatment Modalities for Hepatitis: A Clinician's Perspective.” The session linked the public health and transfusion-related dimensions of hepatitis with its clinical management.
Following the lunch break, Arif Nadim of NSU, Islamabad, presented “The Journey of Hepatitis Prevention in Pakistan: Learning from the Past, Acting for the Future.” The presentation placed hepatitis prevention within a broader national perspective and encouraged reflection on progress, continuing challenges, and future priorities. A further important session was delivered by Akhlaaq Wazeer, Microbiologist, National TB Program, Ministry of NHSR&C, entitled “Biosafety and Laboratory Practices: Lessons from the First Confirmed Case of Transfusion-Transmitted Hepatitis E in Pakistan.” This session connected laboratory and biosafety considerations with an important national experience in transfusion-transmitted hepatitis E.
Practical training and demonstration on blood donation and TTI prevention during the Orientation and Training Session at RBC Swat on World Hepatitis Day
The scientific programme continued with Zubina, CEO, Blood Transfusion Authority, who presented “Role of Blood Transfusion Authority in Blood Safety: Strengthening Quality Management in Transfusion Service and National Perspective on Blood Regulation.” The session addressed the role of regulatory authorities in strengthening quality management and blood safety from a national perspective. The final scientific component was an interactive multidisciplinary panel discussion, bringing together experts from different areas of transfusion medicine, blood services, virology, and pathology. The panel included Shabnum Bashir, Muhammad Rizwan Rajput, Muhammad Iqbal, Haseeb, Sajid Ali, and Amreek Lal, representing organizations and institutions including the Institute of Blood Transfusion Service Punjab, Regional Blood Centers in Dera Ismail Khan, Peshawar and Bannu, Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan, and Saidu Group of Teaching Hospital. The panel discussion provided a platform for professional exchange on practical and strategic issues affecting blood safety and transfusion services. The multidisciplinary format enabled participants to consider challenges from regulatory, laboratory, clinical, and service-delivery perspectives.
Following the panel, Shahid Alam presented the Key Recommendations and Way Forward, providing an opportunity to consolidate the major points emerging from the scientific sessions and discussions. The programme then proceeded to the Chief Guest's Remarks, delivered by Mumtaz Ali Khan, followed by closing remarks from Syed Muzammil Shah, Manager, Regional Blood Center Swat. The activity concluded with the distribution of certificates and souvenirs by the Chief Guest and the organizing committee.
Overall, the two-day activity brought together practical laboratory orientation and multidisciplinary scientific education, allowing participants to move from understanding the operational aspects of blood screening and transfusion services to engaging with broader scientific, clinical, regulatory, and public health issues related to the prevention of transfusion-transmitted infections.
Panel Discussion on Prevention of Transfusion-Transmitted Infections World Hepatitis Day 2026, organised by RBC Swat and supported by ISBT Academy
Group photo of some participants and speakers at the World Hepatitis Day 2026 Event organised by RBC Swat and supported by ISBT Academy
Keynote address on transfusion-transmitted infections during the World Hepatitis Day 2026 Seminar, Organzied by RBC Swat supported by ISBT Academy.
