Sierra Leone is implementing the third phase of its National Blood Transfusion System Strengthening Programme, with a new centre at Bo Regional Hospital forming part of efforts to widen access to safe blood services.

Table Of Content

Bo centre joins national network
Training and postgraduate programme
Community mobilisation

The programme is being carried out by the Italian Association for Solidarity Among People (AISPO) in collaboration with Sierra Leone’s Ministry of Health and other national institutions. It is supported by the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation and includes infrastructure development, specialist training and community engagement.

Progress was reviewed on June 9 during an institutional and monitoring mission led by AISPO President Prof. Fabio Ciceri. The mission brought together representatives of national institutions, Minister of Health Dr. Austin Demby, healthcare facility leaders and project partners.

Bo centre joins national network

The facility at Bo Regional Hospital is Sierra Leone’s third National Blood Transfusion Centre. It complements existing centres in Freetown and Makeni and is intended to expand access to safe and quality blood services in Bo District.

The availability of blood that is safe and ready for immediate transfusion remains a major healthcare concern in the country. Expanded services are expected to benefit groups including women during childbirth, newborns and children experiencing severe anaemia.

According to figures cited in the programme materials, voluntary blood donation accounts for less than 1% of the population, compared with the 10% recommendation referenced from the World Health Organization. The materials also estimate that 85% of patients requiring blood transfusions do not have access to blood.

Training and postgraduate programme

The initiative also provides specialised training for doctors, laboratory technicians and other healthcare professionals through national and international cooperation.

A postgraduate specialisation programme in Haematology, described as the first of its kind in Sierra Leone, is being developed with Vita-Salute San Raffaele University and San Raffaele Hospital in Milan. Five Sierra Leonean doctors are undertaking advanced training at San Raffaele Hospital.

They are expected to contribute to knowledge transfer and help implement the future national specialisation programme when they return to Sierra Leone.

The programme is based on a partnership involving the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Technical and Higher Education, alongside AISPO, the Italian development agency, the university and San Raffaele Hospital.

Community mobilisation

Community participation is another component of the programme, which promotes voluntary blood donation and public awareness.

Sixteen community meetings were held across the chiefdoms of Bo District. The meetings resulted in the identification of two community mobilisers in each chiefdom. The mobilisers are expected to support awareness campaigns, encourage participation and promote voluntary donation.

Paramount Chiefs, traditional and religious leaders, youth representatives, healthcare workers, community members and the Bo District Health Management Team are among those involved in the community-focused work.

The programme presents active community participation as necessary for building a stable and safe blood supply that can respond to both emergency and routine healthcare needs. The monitoring mission also reaffirmed the partners’ shared commitment to strengthening Sierra Leone’s health system.