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Improvements to the Blood Transfusion Unit building, including a new computer system, back-up power system and reliable water supply, has helped ensure that blood can now be collected, tested and stored in a safe environment for the people of Aceh, writes Martin Aspin.
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A new computerised blood management system is helping provide a safe blood service to the people of Aceh, through the Indonesian Red Cross-Australian Red Cross Blood Services Improvement Project in Banda Aceh.
'This system, developed in Indonesia, has been established to track blood units from donation to transfusion, ensuring safe blood is collected and stored, tested for transfusion transmittable diseases and a full range of client data is available', explained Australian Red Cross Blood Project Manager, Denis French.
This is a key initiative of the blood project, which was established in Aceh after the tsunami in December 2004, devastating Aceh Province in Indonesia and destroying Banda Aceh's Blood Transfusion Unit. |
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Blood donor registration at the Blood Transfusion Unit in Banda Aceh. |
'All staff at the blood transfusion unit have received training and are now qualified users of the new system,' says Dr Zaffrullah, Director of the unit in Banda Aceh. 'In addition, staff received training on blood testing, collection and storage', he added.
Further improvements in blood quality have occurred since the unit received equipment from American Red Cross, to further improvements in blood quality in Aceh.
Networking with remote units
Blood transfusion units in Langsa and Lhokseumawe, eight hours from Banda Aceh, are also being strengthened and now have facilities to test and store blood safely. In future the units in Langsa and Lhokseumawe will be online and connected to Banda Aceh with the new computer system.
As well as improving blood services in Aceh, blood donation is up 97 per cent from last year, thanks to mobile blood drives and blood drive coordinators' workshops run by Australian Red Cross and local partners.
'Traditionally, voluntary blood donation has been a challenge, but through recent socialisation campaigns, blood drives and the recruitment of blood donor coordinators, Aceh has seen an encouraging increase in voluntary blood donation,' says Dr Zaffrullah.
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