Ethiopia to build 26 million people blood transfusion centre

Ethiopia has launched the construction of a blood transfusion centre to cater for approximately 26 million people.

The Ministry of Health project is supported by the US President’s Emergency Plan for Aids Relief (PEPFAR).

It will provide additional capacity to receive donations, screen and process blood, and distribute life-saving products to at least a quarter of Ethiopians, according to Health minister Kesetebirhan Admasu, who spoke at the groundbreaking ceremony in Addis Ababa Wednesday.

Two years

PEPFAR will channel its $5 million funding to USAid to help complete the construction of the facility in two years.

The centre will enable Ethiopia meet the more than 25 per cent of the World Health Organisation-recommended annual blood collection goals for the country.

“A key reason for improving blood transfusion services in Ethiopia is to reduce the number of maternal deaths. Haemorrhaging continues to be one of the leading causes of maternal mortality in Ethiopia, and many of these deaths can be prevented through blood transfusions,” said the USAid Ethiopia Director, Mr Dennis Weller.

Host offices

The centre will house the headquarters for blood transfusion services, and host offices, training, meetings and documents according to Mr Weller.

He added that one of the primary reasons for strengthening and expanding blood transfusion services in Ethiopia was to reduce the prevalence of HIV in the blood supply.