[Establishment of a blood transfusion center at Kabul (Afghanistan)].
Recent events concerning blood transfusion (BT) have led to the number of BT being drastically reduced and to more rigorous checking of blood donations before their use for transfusion. Very few developing countries have been able to set up BT organizations that are both self-sufficient and capable of ensuring a high quality of blood testing. A central blood bank (CBB) was set up in Kabul (Afghanistan) during the 1980s. From 1992 onwards, its activities were curtailed due to the political turmoil, lack of funds and the fact that no blood collection policy was being implemented. A partnership between a development aid agency (Avicen), French public institutions and the local authorities has resulted in the rebirth of this CBB by the injection of financial resources and technical and scientific expertise. An independent committee of BT specialists was responsible for assessing the scientific validity and ethical acceptability of the project. In 1996, the objectives of the project, which had been in operation for one year, were achieved as far as the renovation of the laboratories was concerned. Work has focused mostly on setting up a proper cold chain and on training laboratory technicians in standard biological methods for testing blood from donors (blood group, HIV screening, Ag Hbs, HCV and syphilis). However, due to the shortage of blood donors, it has been difficult to set up a minimum blood bank stock. The results of the first biological tests carried out on the blood of the first 1,281 donors have made it possible to define an appropriate, detailed policy for preventing and controlling the main risks of infection from BT, involving routine testing for HIV, Ag HBs and HCV (0.3% prevalence). BT is a major component of any health care system and it must be reconstructed. The measures proposed here are long-term and require the ongoing participation of all those involved in this project including the local authorities and sources of financial support.
Dupire
B
B
Hôpital Sainte-Marguerite, Pharmacie, bd de Ste-Marguerite, 13274 Marseille Cedex 09, France.
Abawi
A K
AK
Ganteaume
C
C
Lam
T
T
Truze
P
P
Martet
G
G
D000328:Adult; D000346:Afghanistan; D001771:Blood Banks / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000592:standards; D001782:Blood Donors; D001789:Blood Group Antigens; D001803:Blood Transfusion; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male
D001789:Blood Group Antigens