Intercontinental Health Alliance to Develop High-Impact Sustainable Educational Programmes on Quality Management in Transfusion Medicine to Enhance Accessibility and Safety of Blood Components

UFS collaborators: Claire Barrett, Johan Botes, Isabella du Preez, Anneke van Marle and Lariska Haupt

Each year, blood transfusions save 100 million lives, made possible by generous donors and advancements in Transfusion Medicine (TM). While Europe has largely achieved universal access to safe and sufficient blood with harmonised quality standards, disparities persist in low and middle-income regions, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa and vast areas of Asia. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), ensuring access to safe blood remains a critical challenge in these regions, primarily due to gaps in education, training, and quality assurance that is an often-overlooked yet essential pillar of TM lacking a structured career path for professionals. A key barrier to safe and efficient blood transfusion in Africa and Asia is the shortage of adequately trained professionals in quality management. To address this urgent need, TransMedAfrica aims to: a) Strengthen the competencies of TM professionals, using Zimbabwe as a case study, to uphold high-quality standards across the entire blood donation value chain (from collection and processing to transfusion); b) Foster regional and cross-regional harmonization of TM practices through strategic participation of higher education institutions (HEIs) in South Africa and India to create new accredited courses that could be replicated in these countries and beyond. By integrating expertise from Africa, Asia, and Europe, TransMedAfrica will develop and implement innovative hybrid educational programs tailored to the specific needs of TM professionals in Zimbabwe and beyond. The project’s structured approach will equip African and Asian partners with the necessary tools to ensure long-term sustainability and scalability of a transcontinental educational model. Through its dynamic, flexible, and needs-driven methodology, the TransMedAfrica consortium will make a lasting impact on the safety, efficiency, and accessibility of transfusion practices starting in Africa, bringing global quality standards within reach.

 
Partners in this grant are:

• Universitat Autonoma De Barcelona 
• Banc De Sang
• Africa Society for Blood Transfusion
• Rijksuniversiteit Groningen
• University of Zimbabwe
• National Blood Service Zimbabwe Association 
• Asian Association of Transfusion Medicine
• Africa University
• Mahatma Gandhi University of Medical Sciences and Technology
• Manipal Academy of Higher Education
• Central University of Technology, Free State
• University of the Free State

The RAD unit is thrilled to be planning, executing, and constructing a new world-class postgraduate simulation unit. This center will focus on enhancing patient management for registrars and the broader healthcare community while simultaneously driving technological advancements in healthcare interventions. As project leader, George Muller collaborated actively with the Head of School and Heads of Departments to identify needs, develop a realistic plan, and acquire all the necessary equipment to ensure the centre achieves world-class status.

The RAD Unit's George Muller led the team responsible for acquiring 3D printers for the School of Clinical Medicine, beginning with a clear identification of needs and key stakeholders. The core element of this initiative is the installation of an advanced biomedical resin 3D printer. This technology will significantly support research and medical intervention strategies for registrars and specialists, ultimately providing tremendous benefits for patient care. The next phase involves developing the new dedicated venue within the new Post Graduate Simulation Unit and establishing a refined, working workflow for the equipment's utilisation.