Transfusion Medicine in sub-Saharan Africa: Conference Summary

In November 2014, a three day conference devoted to Transfusion Medicine in sub-Saharan Africa was held in Kampala, Uganda. Faculty from academic institutions in Uganda provided a broad overview of issues pertinent to transfusion medicine in Africa. The conference consisted of lectures, demonstrations, and discussions followed by five small-group workshops held at the Uganda Blood Transfusion Service Laboratories, the Ugandan Cancer Institute, and the Mulago National Referral Hospital. Highlighted topics included: the challenges posed by increasing clinical demands for blood; the need for better patient identification at the time of transfusion; inadequate application of the antiglobulin reagent during pre-transfusion testing; concern regarding proper recognition and evaluation of transfusion reactions; the expanded role for nurse leadership as a means to improve patient outcomes; and the need for an epidemiologic map of blood usage in Africa.

Source: Transfusion Medicine Reviews - February 19, 2015 Category: Hematology Authors: Walter ‘Sunny’ Dzik, Dorothy Kyeyune, Grace Otekat, Bernard Natukunda, Heather Hume, Phillip G. Kasirye, Henry Ddungu, Isaac Kajja, Aggrey Dhabangi, Godfrey R. Mugyenyi, Claire Seguin, Linda Barnes, Meghan Delaney Source Type: research