Taming the tide of HIV and TTI scourge in Sub-Saharan Africa using autologous blood transfusion

“

Most health centers in sub-Saharan Africa still practice allogeneic whole blood transfusion repleted by remunerated (commercial) blood donors. The consequence of this is increased prevalence of transfusion transmissible infectious diseases including HIV and allogeneic blood transfusion adverse reactions. Safe blood transfusion in sub-Saharan Africa is still a mirage owing to the above mentioned reasons. In addition,poor blood screening methods, scarcity of non-remunerated blood donors, and failure to embrace component blood therapy are the contributing factors to unsafe blood transfusion practice in this part of the world. The fear of contracting an infectious disease, particularly HIV, from allogeneic blood transfusion has been the primary motivating factor in the decision to donate autologous blood. This was a prospective study aimed at enlightening the public on the importance of ABT as a safe blood transfusion strategy and to ascertain its suitability in improving the quality of lives of patients.

”