Abstract
Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) is burdened with a growing population and poor health care resources. Transfusion medicine is uniquely affected for SSA as a result of a combination of factors which put tremendous pressure on the blood supply. In this review, we consider these factors including: malaria, sickle cell anemia, transfusion medicine infrastructure, and past transfusion medicine policies including those which are tied to foreign aid, such as a VNRD-only practice. We also consider how SSA can overcome some of these hurdles to achieve a safe and adequate blood supply for its people through the advent of new vaccines, medications, infrastructure development, policy changes, and education.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 416-421 |
Number of pages | 6 |
Journal | Transfusion and Apheresis Science |
Volume | 49 |
Issue number | 3 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Dec 1 2013 |
Keywords
- Blood Supply
- Global
- Sub Saharan Africa
- Transfusion