Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2005. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
PRNewswire - December 1, 2005
ABUJA, Nigeria, Dec. 1 /PRNewswire/ -- In a continuing effort in his commitment to transform Nigeria's blood transfusion system, His Excellency and Head of the African Union, President Olusegun Obasanjo, asked U.S.-based non-profit organization, Safe Blood for Africa Foundation(TM) to expand blood safety programs throughout Nigeria. Nigeria, the most populous country in Africa, created its recently launched National Blood Transfusion Service to help millions of its citizens receive properly tested blood and blood products. In May 2005, President Obasanjo not only opened the first center in Abuja, but also donated his own blood as a sign of confidence in the important program.
Additional blood transfusion centers with technical assistance by Safe Blood for Africa Foundation(TM) will soon open in the cities of Kaduna and Owerri with others to follow. Also, hundreds of Nigerian healthcare professionals were trained by Safe Blood for Africa Foundation(TM) personnel to develop quality control procedures and standard operating procedures, perform proper HIV testing, and initiate safe blood transfusions. The successful program has also addressed staffing, training and equipment needs in donor clinics, hospitals and laboratories throughout Nigeria.
"This year's events mark a turning point in our quest to establish a National Blood Transfusion Service. I am committed to this program which is of vital interest to my people, and look forward to continued operation and expansion," said President Obasanjo at the May 12, 2005 opening of the National Blood Transfusion Service administered by Safe Blood for Africa Foundation(TM).
"On this World AIDS Day, Nigeria can be proud of their success in 2005 in the fight against the spread of HIV/AIDS. With the help of President Obasanjo and the Nigerian Ministry of Health, USAID, CDC, PEPFAR, and ExxonMobil, the Nigerian National Blood Transfusion Network will save hundreds of thousands of lives," said Jeff Busch, founder and chairman of Safe Blood for Africa Foundation(TM). "We look forward to opening additional centers throughout the nation in 2006."
This program was designed and implemented by the Nigerian Ministry of Health and the Safe Blood for Africa Foundation(TM), with funding from USAID, CDC, President Bush's Emergency Plan For AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), and ExxonMobil to support HIV prevention, blood safety, and donor recruitment in Nigeria.
Safe Blood for Africa Foundation(TM) has recruited and trained a network of blood testing scientists, blood collection experts and donor recruitment specialists to support the safe collection, testing and distribution of blood and blood products. Working side-by-side with the Nigerian Ministry of Health, Safe Blood for Africa Foundation(TM) has provided technical assistance in formulating a national blood plan to help limit the HIV epidemic through blood transfusion and has joined with Nigeria's medical professionals from its initial implementation to continued expansion throughout the nation.
About Safe Blood for Africa Foundation(TM): Safe Blood for Africa is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit Delaware corporation, which has had success establishing blood safety programs and complementary programs such as youth, donor recruitment, and safe injection programs in Africa. Safe Blood For Africa is a subsidiary of Safe Blood International(TM), a 501(c)(3) Delaware Corporation whose purpose is to help prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS by introducing innovative blood safety, youth, donor recruitment and safe injection programs throughout the world, including the newly formed subsidiary Safe Blood for China Foundation(TM). Safe Blood for Africa is helping to secure a safe blood supply to multiple countries in sub-Saharan Africa where contamination from infectious diseases, including HIV, Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C, is most prevalent. For more information visit http://www.safebloodinternational.org.
SOURCE Safe Blood International Foundation
Web Site: http://www.safebloodinternational.org
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