In an effort to addresses persistent disparities in access to safe blood, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa and parts of Asia, the University of the Free State (UFS) is part of an Intercontinental Health Alliance to strengthen Transfusion Medicine (TM) education and quality management systems across the two continents.

The TransMedAfrica project is a capacity-building initiative. It brings together consortium partners from Africa, Asia, and Europe with the shared goal of improving access to safe and sufficient blood through structured educational innovation and regional collaboration. The UFS, in collaboration with the Central University of Technology and the Africa Society for Blood Transfusion, is a key contributor to TransMedAfrica – an ERASMUS+ alliance uniting seven universities and leading blood establishments across three continents.

According to Dr Claire Barrett, Head of Research and Development in the UFS School of Clinical Medicine and co-collaborator from the UFS, shortages of adequately trained professionals in quality management remain a major barrier in sub-Saharan Africa and parts of Asia. “While many European countries have achieved harmonised quality standards and broad access to safe transfusion services, gaps in education, training, and quality assurance continue to undermine transfusion safety in low- and middle-income settings. 

“TransMedAfrica responds directly to this need by positioning quality management as a core professional competency within TM, rather than an afterthought. By advancing quality management education in transfusion medicine, UFS is helping shape sustainable, harmonised blood systems that improve safety and expand access where it is needed most,” says Dr Barrett. 

Blood transfusion saves lives

Blood transfusion is a critical, life‑saving medical practice, but many people around the world still lack timely access to safe blood. The World Health Organization (WHO) emphasises that ensuring a safe and sufficient blood supply should be part of every country’s national health policy. Transfusions are essential for treating various conditions, including anaemia, pregnancy and childbirth complications, severe injuries, surgical needs, and chronic illnesses such as sickle cell disease, thalassaemia, and haemophilia. To keep transfusions safe and effective, WHO highlights the importance of haemovigilance – a system of standardised procedures overseeing the entire process from blood collection to storage and clinical use.

This initiative is not only an essential component of the UN Sustainable Development Goal 3 (SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being) in supporting targets related to universal health coverage, maternal and child mortality reduction, and fighting communicable diseases, it also aligns with the university’s Strategic Plan 2023–2028 to establish collaborative innovation and global integration.

Strengthening competencies of TM professionals

Using Zimbabwe as a case study, Dr Barrett explains, the project focuses on strengthening the competencies of TM professionals across the entire blood donation value chain – from donor recruitment and collection to processing, storage, and transfusion. In parallel, higher education institutions in South Africa and India play a strategic role in developing new accredited courses aimed at fostering regional and cross-regional harmonisation of TM practices. These educational programmes are designed to be adaptable and replicable, enabling broader implementation across participating regions and beyond.

“Through the integration of expertise from Africa, Asia, and Europe, TransMedAfrica develops and implements innovative hybrid educational models tailored to local realities while aligned with global quality standards. Its structured and needs-driven approach equips partner institutions with the tools required for long-term sustainability and scalability, laying the foundation for a transcontinental educational framework in Transfusion Medicine.

“By strengthening professional training, promoting harmonisation, and embedding quality management into career pathways, TransMedAfrica aims to deliver lasting improvements in the safety, efficiency, and accessibility of transfusion practices – beginning in Africa and extending outward to the wider global community,” says Dr Barrett.