First Meeting of new Advisory Board of IBTA...
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First Meeting of new Advisory Board of IBTA A meeting of the new Advisory Board of the Islamabad Blood Transfusion Authority (IBTA) was held on Oct 21, 2013, at the IBTA Secretariat. The meeting was chaired by Prof. Hasan Abbas Zaheer. Other IBTA members present included Prof. Khurshid Ahmed, Prof. Khalid Hasan, Maj. Gen. Muhammad Ayub, Dr. Huma Qureshi, Dr. Asma Cheema, Dr. Syed Imtiaz Hasan, Prof. Haroon Khan, Dr. Quaid Saeed, Mr. Zahid Mahmood and Dr. Saira Siddiqui. The Board members congratulated the Chairman on assuming the office and assured full support and cooperation in strengthening of the IBTA. The meeting deliberated on the current regulatory and legal situation; operational tools developed by SBTP; and action plan for the revival of IBTA. Important decisions were taken to reactivate IBTA including; recruitment of staff, resource allocation, exclusion of blood regulation from Federal Health Authority draft law, inclusion of a Financial Advisor and a representative of the Ministry of Law and Justice in the IBTA Advisory Board and development of MIS for BTA by the FC component of the SBT Project. The Board unanimously endorsed the action plan developed. Project Director, SBTP meets WHO Country Representative Prof. H.A Zaheer, Project Director, SBTP called on the WHO Country Representative, Dr. Nima Saeed Abid on October 9, 2013, and discussed the WHO support to the project. Dr. Quaid Saeed, WHO National Programme Officer (Blood Safety) was also present on the occasion. Prof. Zaheer briefed about the project progress and the activities conducted through the first phase of the WHO/OFID collaboration for prevention of Transfusion Transmitted Infections. The PD, SBTP appreciated the WHO support for promoting blood safety in Pakistan and discussed the plans for the 2 nd phase of the WHO/OFID Programme. Dr. Nima lauded the efforts of the Programme and assured continued WHO support to the governments blood safety initiative. Editorial A number of Progrmme activities were conducted during the month of October. The Islamabad Blood Transfusion Authority has been revived and the meeting of its new Advisory Board was held in Islamabad. In addition to regulating the blood transfusion system in the federal capital territory, IBTA also has the mandate to coordinate with the provincial blood transfusion authorities and strengthen their capacity with the aim to have uniform and effective regulation of blood transfusion services throughout the country. The IBTA Board approved the plan of action which included the strategy to conduct workshop for the Islamabad based blood banks to prepare them for the IBTA inspections and licensing requirements. Similar workshops will later be conducted by IBTA in the provinces also. A national consultation for advocacy of significance of blood safety for the policy makers was also approved during the Board meeting. Indeed, the regulation of the transfusion services is envisaged to be the foundation of the National Strategic Framework III which is to be developed soon. The support from KfW, the German Development Bank, for the second phase of the project has been finalized and an MOU has been signed in this regard with the Ministry of National Health Services, Regulation and Coordination. The Financial Cooperation has also announced the procurement of equipment for the hospital blood banks which are being renovated currently. The tenders of this bid will be finalized during the month of November. A team of experts from German Government have also visited the constructions sites of Regional Blood Centres and was satisfied with the progress of the work. The Safe Blood Transfusion Programme is recipient of the WHO/OFID Joint Project (OPEC Fund for International Development) on Prevention of Transfusion- Transmitted Infections. The first phase of this support is nearing successful completion. Among the last remaining activities, a series of nationwide workshops (4) is being organized in November on the country strategy for blood donation screening for TTIs. The plans for the second 3-year phase have also been finalized and will commence from January 2014. The achievements of the first phase and the plans of the second phase were discussed in detail earlier this month by the Project Director, SBTP with the WHO Country Representative. International events included the annual conference of Asian Association of Transfusion Medicine in New Delhi, High Level Policy meeting on VNRBD in Italy by WHO and Thalassaemia International Federation’s annual meeting in Abu Dhabi. The SBT Programmme also took a lead in the long term capacity building of technical personnel and after collaborating with American Society of Clinical Pathologists (ASCP), established an Advisory Board of Certification in Pakistan which will ensure uniformity and standardization in the quality of laboratory staff according to international model. Prof.Hasan Abbas Zaheer Project Director
Transcript of First Meeting of new Advisory Board of IBTA...
First Meeting of new Advisory Board of IBTA
A meeting of the new Advisory Board of the Islamabad Blood Transfusion Authority (IBTA) was held on Oct 21, 2013, at the IBTA Secretariat. The meeting was chaired by Prof. Hasan Abbas Zaheer. Other IBTA members present included Prof. Khurshid Ahmed, Prof. Khalid Hasan, Maj. Gen. Muhammad Ayub, Dr. Huma Qureshi, Dr. Asma Cheema, Dr. Syed Imtiaz Hasan, Prof. Haroon Khan, Dr. Quaid Saeed, Mr. Zahid Mahmood and Dr. Saira Siddiqui. The Board members congratulated the Chairman on assuming the office and assured full support and cooperation in strengthening of the IBTA.
The meeting deliberated on the current regulatory and legal situation; operational tools developed by SBTP; and action plan for the revival of IBTA. Important decisions were taken to reactivate IBTA including; recruitment of staff, resource allocation, exclusion of blood regulation from Federal Health Authority draft law, inclusion of a Financial Advisor and a representative of the Ministry of Law and Justice in the IBTA Advisory Board and development of MIS for BTA by the FC component of the SBT Project. The Board unanimously endorsed the action plan developed.
Project Director, SBTP meets WHO Country Representative
Prof. H.A Zaheer, Project Director, SBTP called on the WHO Country Representative, Dr. Nima Saeed Abid on October 9, 2013, and discussed the WHO support to the project. Dr. Quaid Saeed, WHO National Programme Officer (Blood Safety) was also present on the occasion. Prof. Zaheer briefed about the project progress and the activities conducted through the first phase of the WHO/OFID collaboration for prevention of Transfusion Transmitted Infections. The PD, SBTP appreciated
the WHO support for promoting blood safety in Pakistan and discussed the plans for the 2nd phase of the WHO/OFID Programme. Dr. Nima lauded the efforts of the Programme and assured continued WHO support to the governments blood safety initiative.
Editorial
A number of Progrmme activities were conducted during the month of October. The Islamabad Blood Transfusion Authority has been revived and the meeting of its new Advisory Board was held in Islamabad. In addition to regulating the blood transfusion system in the federal capital territory, IBTA also has the mandate to coordinate with the provincial blood transfusion authorities and strengthen their capacity with the aim to have uniform and effective regulation of blood transfusion services throughout the country. The IBTA Board approved the plan of action which included the strategy to conduct workshop for the Islamabad based blood banks to prepare them for the IBTA inspections and licensing requirements. Similar workshops will later be conducted by IBTA in the provinces also. A national consultation for advocacy of significance of blood safety for the policy makers was also approved during the Board meeting. Indeed, the regulation of the transfusion services is envisaged to be the foundation of the National Strategic Framework III which is to be developed soon.
The support from KfW, the German Development Bank, for the second phase of the project has been finalized and an MOU has been signed in this regard with the Ministry of National Health Services, Regulation and Coordination. The Financial Cooperation has also announced the procurement of equipment for the hospital blood banks which are being renovated currently. The tenders of this bid will be finalized during the month of November. A team of experts from German Government have also visited the constructions sites of Regional Blood Centres and was satisfied with the progress of the work.
The Safe Blood Transfusion Programme is recipient of the WHO/OFID Joint Project (OPEC Fund for International Development) on Prevention of Transfusion- Transmitted Infections. The first phase of this support is nearing successful completion. Among the last remaining activities, a series of nationwide workshops (4) is being organized in November on the country strategy for blood donation screening for TTIs. The plans for the second 3-year phase have also been finalized and will commence from January 2014. The achievements of the first phase and the plans of the second phase were discussed in detail earlier this month by the Project Director, SBTP with the WHO Country Representative.
International events included the annual conference of Asian Association of Transfusion Medicine in New Delhi, High Level Policy meeting on VNRBD in Italy by WHO and Thalassaemia International Federation’s annual meeting in Abu Dhabi. The SBT Programmme also took a lead in the long term capacity building of technical personnel and after collaborating with American Society of Clinical Pathologists (ASCP), established an Advisory Board of Certification in Pakistan which will ensure uniformity and standardization in the quality of laboratory staff according to international model.
Prof.Hasan Abbas Zaheer Project Director
BMZ earmark 10 million Euro for Phase-II of Safe Blood Transfusion Project (KfW)
BMZ has earmarked an amount of 10 Million Euros as FC support to a Phase 2 of the Safe Blood Transfusion Project (SBTP). In this regard, KfW commissioned a study to examine options for second phase which was carried out by EPOS Health Management. Upon completion of the study, a delegation from KfW Entwicklungs bank (development bank) consisting of Ms. Andrea Godon (Senior Project Manager, KfW Frankfurt), Dr. Nargis Siegfried (Technical Advisor) and Dr. Masuma Zaidi (Project Coordinator, Health Sector, KfW Islamabad) carried out a mission for the appraisal of Phase II of the SBTP.
The delegation signed memorandum of understandings (MoUs) with the provincial department of health Punjab, Sindh, Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Gilgit-Baltistan, AJK, ICT and the Ministry of National Health for Phase 2 of the SBTP. The MoUs describe major activities to be financed out of the German Government contribution (KfW) and recurring cost to be covered by the provincial/state governments.
Dr. Qaiser Majeed, Additional Secretary CA&DD, meeting Prof. H.A Zaheer during visit PIMS Blood Bank.
Husaini Blood Bank conducted training workshop in Lahore
As part of the Continuing Medical Education programme, Husaini Blood Bank conducted a successful training workshop at Ittefaq Hospital, Lahore. Dr. Saeed Ahmed, Husaini Blood Bank conducted the workshop which covered Donor Management, Serological Screening, Component Production, Storage, Transport, and Rational Clinical Use of Blood. The participants were haematologists, physicians and surgeons from all specialties of Medicine, laboratory technicians and post graduate students of haematology from University of Health Sciences, Lahore.
ISBT Membership Awarded to Pakistan
The International Society of Blood Transfusion (ISBT) has awarded membership to Dr. Muhammad Saboor, Assistant Professor (Haematology), Baqai Medical University, Karachi. The membership has been awarded in the category of ISBT Exempt Membership which is earmarked for young professionals in the field of Transfusion Medicine belonging to low HDI countries.
ASCP Board of Certification in Pakistan
With over 475,000 individuals certified, the American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP) is the largest association of laboratory professionals in the world. The ASCP Board of Certification offers a formal process for international laboratory professionals to earn ASCPi which certifies professionals meeting the academic and clinical prerequisites and who achieve acceptable performance levels on examinations. ASCP has received multiple applications from Pakistan for certification in different disciplines. Due to the difference in pre-requisite academic eligibility criteria, ASCP established an Advisory Board of Certification in Pakistan comprising committed national professionals. The BOC Advisory Board members include Prof. Hasan Abbas Zaheer, (Project Director Safe Blood Transfusion Programme, Government of Pakistan), Prof. Haroon Khan (Consultant Chemical Pathologist, Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences), Mr. Usman Waheed (Technical Advisor, Safe Blood Transfusion Programme, Pakistan), Mr. Asim Ansari (Manager Pathology, Kulsum International Hospital, Islamabad), Dr. Muhammad Saboor (Assistant Professor Haematology, Baqai Medical University, Karachi) and Mr. Muhammad Sarfraz (Head of Microbiology Department, Al-Razi Healthcare Limited, Lahore).
NUST Community Services Club organized a Seminar on Voluntary Blood Donation
The Community Services Club (NCSC), National University of Science and Technology, Islamabad, organized a seminar on Voluntary Blood Donation on October 1, 2013. The seminar was conducted to raise awareness on voluntary blood donation among the university students. The guest speaker was Prof. Hasan Abbas Zaheer, Project Director Safe Blood Transfusion Programme and Incharge, Blood Transfusion Services, Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences. Prof. Zaheer addressed the enthusiastic audience and presented the international and national blood transfusion scenario. He also highlighted the need to unify all blood donor organizations functioning in various universities in Islamabad under a single network. A question and answer session followed the presentation in which students were provided given an opportunity to clear any misconceptions and concerns they had with regards to donating blood. Earlier, NUST faculty member Dr. Irtiza Ali Shah, welcomed the guest speaker and the audenice to the Seminar and highlighted the objective of organising the Community Seminar series.
Procurement of Equipment for 59 Blood Banks of all provinces and AJK:
Under the FC (KfW) component of SBTP, P&DD Islamabad published invitation for bids for procurement of equipment for 59 blood banks to be attached with regional blood centers. In this regard, a pre-bid conference was held on October 22, 2013 at the SBTP Office Islamabad. Dr. Asghar Abbasi, Chief Health, Planning and Development Division, and Prof. Zaheer, National Coordinator, SBTP co-chaired the conference. Mr. Ay Shing Yaw, equipment expert from Medi consult (Malaysia) and Mr. Zahid Mahmood, National Team Leader, SBTP facilitated the pre-bid conference and responded to the questions and observations of the bidders.
Mr. Muhammad Sarfraz Dr. Muhammad Saboor Mr. Asim Ansari Prof. Hasan A. Zaheer Mr. UsmanWaheed Prof. Haroon Khan
Construction Site visits by EPOS Team
A team comprising Günter Merk, Zahid Mahmood and architect Sulman Munir visited RBC sites in Multan and Bahawalpur to review the construction progress. During the visits, the team met with Prof. Dr Harron Pasha Principal, Victoria Hospital, Bahawalpur and Dr Shamshad Kazmi, Incharge Blood Bank. At the Multan site, the team met with Dr Bashir Incharge Blood Bank Nishtar Hospital. It was noted that work on both these sites was as per schedule and RBCs’ building would be ready in August 2014. To ensure timely operationalisation of the buildings, the team advised the local management to process applications for installation of electric supply connection, water supply, sewerage, etc.
Patients’ Welfare Association
“We Feel, We Serve”
Patients’ Welfare Association (PWA) located in Civil Hospital Karachi, is the charitable initiative of students of Dow Medical College established in 1979. The PWA Blood Bank (registered under the Sindh Transfusion of Safe Blood Act, 1997) was established in 1982 in response to a desperate need felt to begin a crusade against professional blood donors who were mostly drug addicts and carriers of various transmittable diseases.
The organizational structure includes six executive members and 57 paid full time staff. The executive committee holds monthly meetings to monitor the progress. PWA has an annual budget of Rs. 32,042,389/- which is collected through donations/zakat. The biggest strength of the organization is that all services are provided free of cost. The society functions in following priority areas: Blood Transfusion Services Drug Bank Diagnostic Laboratory Follow up Clinics Thalassaemia Services
PWA Blood Bank is the only functional blood bank at Civil Hospital Karachi, working 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, having an output of around 250 bags per day. It stands unique amongst other blood banks as it does not charge a single rupee from its patients for screening and cross match. The total number of donors managed is around 70,000 – 80,000 and their record is maintained in MS Excel. The blood collected is supplied mostly to Civil Hospital, SIUT, Liaqat National, Burhani Hospital and Lady Deferins Hospital. The voluntary donation concept is promoted through blood donation camps, awareness seminars and promotional material. The blood camps are organized monthly on regular basis. Areas of interest and future plans include improved screening techniques (with CLIA), increasing voluntary blood donation and financial stability. Contact Details:
Dr. Saqib Kamran President Patients’ Welfare Association Civil Hospital, Baba-e-Urdu Road, Karachi Cell: 0334-3507468, 021-32735214 E-mail: [email protected]
