5 November 2019 – Blood transfusion is an integral component of health care delivery systems and a key component of an effective and efficient health system that can give patients access to safe blood products when and where needed. Afghanistan with many physical trauma-related events, is one of the countries with a high need for safe blood products and blood transfusion services.
Therefore, technical and financial support to the Ministry of Public Health of Afghanistan for safe blood services has been one of the areas of focus for WHO Afghanistan. Funding from USAID helped build two blood banks in Kabul, one at Jamhuriat and Wazir Mohammad Akbar Khan hospitals, to ensure the quality, safety, availability and equitable distribution of blood products. In addition to the two newly constructed blood banks, WHO has been supporting the central blood bank in Kabul and another 55 health facilities across Afghanistan.
Both blood banks, which were inaugurated by the Minister of Public Health of Afghanistan with representatives from USAID and WHO country offices, were fully equipped with the required equipment and the staff were trained and deployed to the blood banks.
On an annual basis, the 57 blood banks have been supporting more than 12 000 people requiring blood transfusion services. WHO has covered all 7 regional, 26 provincial, 22 district and one comprehensive health centres with blood bank supplies and equipment. WHO plans to further expand the support to all district hospitals and the comprehensive health facilities to enhance capacity of blood safe transfusion services during for mass casualty incidences.
