Prof. HA Zaheer Honorary Advisor PRCS

Dr. Saeed Elahi Chairman PRCS

Brig. Sardar Mehmoob Secretary General, PRCS

Appointment of Prof. Hasan Abbas Zaheer as Advisor Pakistan Red Crescent Society

Prof. Hasan Abbas Zaheer, National Coordinator SBTP has been appointed as the PRCS Honorary Advisor for Blood Safety and Diagnostic Services. A simple ceremony was held on August 7, 2014 in this regard in the Pakistan Red Crescent Society Headquarters attended by Dr. Saeed Elahi, Chairman PRCS, Brig. (Retd.) Sardar Mehboob, Secretary General PRCS, Dr. Masood

Fazil, Director Health PRCS, Dr. Gorkhmaz Huseynov, Head of Delegation, International Federation of Red Cross & Crescent (IFRC) and Prof. Hasan Abbas Zaheer, National Coordinator, SBTP. On the occasion, Prof. Zaheer shared his vision for the strengthening and expansion of the PRCS Blood Transfusion Service and presented a “Corporate Strategic Plan” to the PRCS Chairman. The Plan delves on the strategy to strengthen the existing PRCS blood centers and establish a network of new blood centers in PRCS set-ups throughout the country. The IFRC would provide technical assistance to PRCS to implement this strategy and enable PRCS to compliment the government’s blood safety systems reforms. The Chairman appreciated and endorsed the “Corporate Strategic Plan” developed by Prof. Zaheer and welcomed him in PRCS as an Honorary Advisor. The Chairman also requested the IFRC Head of Delegation to extend full assistance to Prof. Zaheer to strengthen the PRCS blood transfusion service. The Secretary General PRCS also welcomed Prof. Zaheer as part of the PRCS family and extended his full support and cooperation. Dr. Gorkhmaz Huseynov, the IFRC Head of Delegation appreciated the PRCS leadership’s decision to strengthen and expand its blood transfusion service and assured full support and assistance on behalf of the IFRC. He informed that he will coordinate with the Honorary Advisor and devise a strategy to jointly implement the Strategic Plan. The meeting concluded with the award of PRCS Star to Prof. Hasan Abbas Zaheer to mark his appointment as the PRCS Honorary Advisor on Blood Safety.

Meeting of IFRC Pakistan with PRCS Honorary Advisor

Dr. Gorkhmaz Huseynov, Head of Delegate, International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) had a meeting with Prof. HA Zaheer, National Coordinator SBTP on August 11, 2014, in the SBTP office. He congratulated Prof. Zaheer on his appointment as the PRCS Honorary Advisor on Blood Safety. Dr. Jamal Shah, Health Coordinator IFRC and Mr. Usman Waheed, Technical Expert SBTP was also present in the meeting. Mr. Huseynov brief about the scope of activities performed by IFRC and shared the IFRC Policy to promote Safe

and Sustainable National Blood Systems. In addition, IFRC in collaboration with WHO, have developed a framework for global action to achieve 100% voluntary blood donation in every country. The framework is based on the recognition that voluntary non-remunerated blood donation is the foundation of a safe, sustainable blood supply. The aim is to strengthen national blood donor programmes and build a stable pool of the safest possible blood donors. The IFRC mission in Pakistan is supporting the global framework through support to PRCS. Prof. Zaheer provided an outline and a road-map to strengthen and expand the PRCS blood transfusion services. The meeting discussed in detail the operationalization of the PRCS strategic plan on blood transfusion services. The specific request by PRCS to IFRC included the provision of Technical Assistance to develop, initiate implementation and devise M&E mechanisms of a detailed 5-year Business Plan to establish a comprehensive network of blood centers all over the country in the PRCS set-ups. IFRC will develop a MoU in this regard between the PRCS and IFRC to initiate work in this most important collaboration.

EDITORIAL

The new dynamic leadership of the Pakistan Red Crescent Society has a vision to strengthen and expand its transfusion service network in the country to compliment the government’s efforts to improve blood safety standards in the country and make it accessible and affordable for all. To guide and steer the implementation of this policy the PRCS Chairman has appointed the undersigned as the PRCS Honorary Advisor. The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent is a key partner in this initiative and will provide technical assistance for this plan and also mobilize resources through national societies and other international partners. It is therefore expected that the PRCS will very soon now fulfil its envisaged role in the promotion of blood safety in the country. During the newsletter reporting period, IBTA conducted re-inspections of four Islamabad blood banks who were initially inspected in March 2014 and found to have some deficiencies. The successful implementation of the blood regulation model in the Federal Capital is a source of satisfaction for all stakeholders and has improved the standard of quality and service delivery in the Islamabad blood banks. A coordination meeting was held in Lahore between the National Coordinator and the Manager Punjab BT Programme and plans discussed to operationalize the new centers developed through SBTP. The future plans for SBTP Phase II were also discussed. Punjab and other provinces have requested Technical Assistance to develop their PC-1s for Phase II. KfW has kindly agreed to provide this support and work on the new PC-1s will start soon under the supervision of the National Coordinator. The immediate forthcoming international events include the Xth Annual Conference of the Asian Association of Transfusion Medicine (AATM) from 18-19 September, 2014 in Khatmandu, Nepal. We urge our readers to participate in the meeting and get a chance to meet the regional partners, develop linkages and share experiences.

Prof. Hasan Abbas Zaheer Project Director

SBTP National Coordinator’s Meeting with Director, Institute of Blood Transfusion Services, Punjab

Prof. H.A Zaheer, National Coordinator SBTP held meetings with Dr. Mobashar Attique, Director IBTA, Punjab in Lahore on August 25/26, 2014. Discussions were also held with Mr. Khawar Kamal, Additional Secretary Health during the meeting. The Additional Secretary Health and the Director, IBTS, expressed profound gratitude on receiving screening kits from the SBTP as there was a sudden shortage of these kits in IBTS. The National Coordinator assured continued support from SBTP in future also.

The Director IBTS informed that the Secretary Health has approved the establishment of 5 new Regional Blood Centers in Punjab (Rawalpindi, Lahore, Faisalabad, Sargodha and Gujranwala) along the lines of the RBC-HBB SBTP model as well as the up-gradation of the 23 IBTS blood centers. The Director requested the National Coordinator for Technical Assistance support to develop the Punjab PC-1 for the second phase of the SBTP. The Director IBTS also informed that the newly developed RBCs in Multan and Bahawalpur will be operationalized soon and Opening Ceremonies organized for the new centers.

Appointment of Dr. Amir Maqbool as Deputy Project Director, SBTP

Dr. Amir Maqbool, a public health management and procurement expert, has joined the Safe Blood Transfusion Programme as the Deputy Project Director. Dr. Amir is a permanent employee of the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) and has a rich clinical and project management experience. In the past, Dr. Amir has served in the National AIDS Control Programme (NACP) and was a key member of the NACP team which managed the preparatory phase (2008-09) of the Safe Blood Transfusion Project including conceiving the project, development and approval of the PC-1s at the provincial and federal levels. Dr. Amir will also serve, on additional charge basis, as the Secretary, Islamabad Blood Transfusion Authority.

Re-inspections of Four ICT Blood Banks by IBTA

The re-inspection of four blood banks in Islamabad was conducted by Islamabad Blood Transfusion Authority (IBTA), Ministry of National Health Services, Regulation and Coordination, in July 2014.

The four blood banks were initially inspected in March 2014 and found to have certain deficiencies and were given three months time to address these deficiencies so that they may be considered for licenses. The re-inspections were conducted by eminent transfusion experts including Dr. Samina Amanat, Consultant Haematologist, PAEC Hospital, Dr. Imtiaz Hasan, Consultant Pathologist, FGPC, Prof. Haroon Khan, Consultant Pathologist, PIMS, and Dr. Amir Maqbool and Usman Waheed from IBTA. The blood banks inspected were in the PAF Hospital, FG Polyclinic Hospital, Capital Hospital and the Social Security Hospital. The Inspection teams recommended grant of licenses to the PAF and FG Polyclinic Hospitals. The IBTA has published advertisements in the press to inform the public about the new liscensed blood banks in Islamabad.

Internship of NUST Students

Ms. Huda Munir and Ms. Kaenat Nasir, students of final semester B.Sc. Biosciences, National University of Science and Technology (NUST), Islamabad served in SBTP as interns for 4 weeks during July 2014. The Interns worked with the SBTP team and gained insight into the understanding of the project and its implementation as well as the organizational structure. During their internship in SBTP they were engaged in designing various operational documents including FAQs on blood donation, transfusion transmitted infections and the editing and compiling of the World Blood Donor Day 2014 Report.

Capital Hospital PAF Hospital

FG Policlinic Hospital Social Security Hospital

Ms. Kaenat Nasir Ms. Huda Munir

IBTA–Current Licensing Status

Activities by Sindh Blood Transfusion Programme

Blood Banks inspected and granted license by IBTA

S.No. Name of Blood Bank

1. Quaid-e-Azam International Hospital Blood Bank, Islamabad

2. Shifa International Hospital Blood Bank, Islamabad

3. Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto Medical University (PIMS) Blood Bank, Islamabad

4. Federal Government Polyclinic Hospital Blood Bank, Islamabad

5. KRL Hospital Blood Bank, Islamabad

6. Kulsum International Hospital Blood Bank, Islamabad

7. PAEC General Hospital Blood Bank, Islamabad

8. PAF Hospital Blood Bank, Islamabad

9. Pakistan Red Crescent Society Blood Donor Centre, Islamabad

10. PNS Hafeez Hospital Blood Bank, Islamabad

Blood Banks inspected and not granted license by IBTA

S.No. Name of Blood Bank

1. Capital Hospital Blood Bank, Islamabad

2. Social Security Hospital Blood Bank, Islamabad

Blood Banks due to be inspected by IBTA

S.No. Name of Blood Bank

1. Ali Medical Centre Blood Bank, Islamabad

2. Federal Government General Hospital Blood Bank, Islamabad

3. Rawal General and Dental Hospital Blood Bank, Islamabad

4. Rahat Medical and Diagnostic Centre Blood Bank, Islamabad

5. Medicsi Hospital Blood Bank, Islamabad

6. Islamabad Medical Complex Nescom Hospital Blood Bank, Islamabad

7. Maroof International Hospital Blood Bank, Islamabad

BLOOD DONOR ORGANIZATION PROFILE

Zainabia Blood Bank &Thalassaemia Centre

Zainabia Blood Bank (ZBB) and Thalassaemia Centre, a project of KSIA Jamat Hyderabad, was established in 2004. ZBB is registered with the Sindh Blood Transfusion Authority. The organization is managed by a team of six people comprising a Board of Governors.

The organization is providing infusion pumps, iron chelation therapy and transfusions to the thalassaemia patients. ZBB is the only organization which is providing blood components (FFP and Platelets) in Hyderabad. There are 520 patients registered with the centre. The majority are thalassaemic patients with some haemophilia and aplastic anaemia patients. Approximately 450 pints of blood per month is being transfused to children suffering from this disease.ZBB expenses are met through Zakat/Donation and the sales of blood products (outside ZBB).

During the fiscal year 2011-12, about 3844 blood donations were collected. The centre is organizing blood camps as per demand and donors record is kept manually. VNRBD concept is promoted through promotional material. The hospitals where the blood is supplied in most of the cases are Isra University Hospital, Liaqat Hospital, and Agha Khan Hospital Hyderabad.

Areas of interest and future plans include the establishment of Thalassaemia Centre in entire Sindh and purchasing of a cell separator.

Contact Details:

Zainabia Blood Bank &Thalassaemia Centre A-6/9, Opp: Hajiani Hospital, Dadan Shah Hyderabad E-mail: hyderymr@gmail.com