CHALLENGES IN DONOR RECRUITMENT IN THIRD WORLD COUNTRIES, ( THE CASE OF KENYA)

CHALLENGES IN DONOR RECRUITMENT

IN THIRD WORLD COUNTRIES,

(THE CASE OF KENYA)

Presenter: Wafula JosphatOrganisation: Kenya Red

Cross SocietyTitle: Regional Blood Donor

Recruiter – Nakuru.

Background Provision of adequate supply of safe blood to patients is

the Responsibility of the Ministry of Health

.Ministry of Health

National Public Health Laboratory Services (NPHLS)

National Blood Transfusion Service (NBTS)

History of Kenya BTS

1930’s: Kenya Begins Basic Blood Transfusion Services

1986: National AIDS Committee of MOH establishes committee to address transmission of HIV and AIDS through blood transfusion

1994: MOH holds workshop on BTS and recommends strengthening NBTS

1998: The Kenya National HIV and AIDS & STDs Control Programme (NASCOP) recommends strengthening BTS policies and strategies

Oct. 1999: MOH develops policy guidelines on blood transfusion in Kenya

2000: Two BTC established 2001/02: More RBTCs established

RBTCs’ Network in Kenya

A Health Staff Preparing A Donor

Over four decades now in donor mobilization and recruitment.

Key role:

Social mobilization of blood donors, Provide education to the target population Recruit volunteer blood donors Provision of pre-donation counseling

Based on the advantage of community good-will and its existence right in the community.

Until quite recently, Red Cross had been the sole partner with the Ministry of Health in donor mobilization and recruitment.

BACKGROUND ON RED CROSS INVOLVEMENT

Estimated demand stands at over 200,000 units per year.

The current statistics also reveal that of the total whole blood collected, just about 18% are repeat (not regular). This further compromises the safety component.

From the high school collections, just about 10% of the entire population donates blood. The percentages are much lower even for the entire general public. a challenge of donor retention, and adequate supply of blood has been felt.

WHAT IS IT LIKE?

DEMAND, 2006,

200000

TOTAL COLLECTIO

N, 2006, 130000

0

50000

100000

150000

200000

250000

2006

DEMAND

TOTALCOLLECTION

Challenges Retaining donors other than recruiting them Over reliance on school based donations Inadequate Provision of a comprehensive

donor care programme This includes counselling services to donors

and HIV & AIDS information -taking back donor results on their sero – status.

Cultural/religious/cults beliefs and ethnical differences

Use of inefficient donor record systems, and having improper database records for donors.

Existence of Independent hospital collections Funding of blood transfusion services, from

the corporate, private sectors and the government.

Poor road network

Strategies Applied Include:

Promoting school collections, through Strengthening Red Cross Clubs within schools and

colleges Peer recruitment approach.

Use of donor incentives such as pens, rulers, lapels, and tie clips for the consequent donations

Use of community leaders such as pastors, village elders, and by use of Local radio stations through local dialects (vernacular).

Integration of various Red Cross health programmes:

First Aid Trainings and services to the public and schools,

HIV & AIDS prevention and home based care program,

Water and sanitation, and malaria prevention through provision of mosquito nets. Red Cross has trained its donor recruiters on HIV & AIDS counseling too.

Strategies Applied (Contd.)

Cultural beliefs/ superstitions, addressed by: Extensive donor education sessions. use of local radio stations through local dialect. Sensitization of opinion leaders

On inefficient record keeping systems recruitment of qualified data clerks by NBTS has been done.

Sensitising hospital based staff on the need to collect blood from the Regional blood Transfusion Centres (By MOH)

Successes Reduction of HIV & AIDS in collected blood from

over 2% to less than 1% within two years. A recorded Repeat donors percentage of over

18% Over 30% increase in total collection of blood in

2006 More receptive communities on the aspects of

voluntary non-remunerated blood donation. Cited in enhanced blood collection during school holidays.

More cases of Donors getting to know their sero-status through VCTs.

The Red Cross’ mobilised sessions contributes to over 70% of the total blood collected in the country.

Open Air Drives, Screening For Donor Registration.

A Scene Captured When Fabric Got Trapped In the Recruiter’s

Motorcycle On The Highway

The Regional Blood Bank Cold Room

An open air Blood Donation Session, a challenge of provision of shelter for

blood donation is faced.

A Parish Priest donating during one of our Public drives in a church

Your presenter:Mr. Wafula Josphat-Kenya Red Cross Society, Regional Blood Donor Recruiter Coordinator.P.O Box 3195, 20100, Nakuru KenyaTel: +254 51 851 356/+254 733 950 809/+254 720 674 070