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Enhancing Availability and Safety of Blood in South Sudan
Lead Organization: Rotary Club of Juba Airport
Partner Organization: South Sudan Blood Donor Society
Technical Oversight: National Blood Transfusion Services (NBTS), Ministry of Health
Strategic Alignment: Rotary Foundation Disease Prevention and Treatment Area of Focus; NBTS Strategic Plan 2026-2030
1. Background
Safe and sufficient blood supply is a cornerstone of effective health systems. In South Sudan, maternal hemorrhage, trauma, severe anemia, and surgical emergencies remain leading causes of preventable deaths. The NBTS Strategic Plan 2026-2030 estimates a national demand of 157,000 blood units annually, yet current voluntary donations fall far short.
Challenges include:
Low voluntary donor mobilization and reliance on family replacement donors.
Weak infrastructure and inadequate equipment in hospital blood banks.
Frequent stock outs of reagents and consumables.
High prevalence of transfusion transmissible infections (TTIs) requiring stronger screening and quality assurance.
This project leverages Rotary disease prevention and treatment priorities strengthening health systems, improving access to quality care, and mobilizing communities in partnership with NBTS and the South Sudan Blood Donor Society.
Problem Statement
Voluntary blood donation rates remain critically low.
Hospital blood banks lack essential equipment for safe collection, testing, and storage.
Donor mobilization systems are weak, with limited awareness campaigns and youth engagement.
Quality assurance gaps undermine safety and sustainability of transfusion services.
Goal
To strengthen blood safety and availability in South Sudan by mobilizing voluntary non remunerated blood donors and equipping blood bank centers with essential medical equipment, aligned with Rotary global grant priorities and NBTS Strategic Plan 2026-2030.
Key Objectives
1.Mobilize at least 20,000 voluntary blood donors annually through youth led campaigns, institutional drives, and community outreach.
2.Strengthen NBTS donor recruitment, retention, and reporting systems.
2.Train healthcare professionals and youth champions in donor mobilization, safe collection, and transfusion practices.
4.Establish a sustainability framework through institutional partnerships and Rotary service projects.
5.Strengthen infrastructure for blood collection, testing, storage, and distribution at Siha District Hospital.
6.Train hospital staff in safe blood banking and clinical transfusion practices.
7. Promote voluntary blood donation through community education and outreach.
8. Strengthen partnerships with the Ministry of Health, National Bank Transfusion Service (NBTS)
9. Improve outcomes for women with obstetric hemorrhage, children with severe anemia, and trauma patients
5. Key Activities
Donor Mobilization Campaigns:
Youth champions lead awareness drives in schools, universities, and workplaces.
Media campaigns (radio, TV, social media) promoting voluntary donation.
Institutional blood drives with chambers of commerce, banks, and oil companies.
Blood Bank Equipment Support:
Procurement of refrigerators, centrifuges, testing kits, and consumables.
Installation of cold chain systems and backup power solutions.
Training of staff on equipment use and maintenance.
Capacity Building:
Training healthcare professionals in transfusion medicine and donor management.
Workshops for youth champions on advocacy and mobilization.
Monitoring & Evaluation:
Establish donor database integrated into NBTS systems.
Track units collected, TTIs screened, and donor retention rates.
Quarterly reporting to Rotary and Ministry of Health.
6. Expected Outcomes
20,000+ voluntary blood donors mobilized annually.
Improved blood safety and availability in maternal health, trauma care, and surgical services.
Three regional blood centers equipped with modern medical equipment.
Enhanced NBTS capacity in donor mobilization, testing, and reporting.
Sustainable partnerships between Rotary, NBTS, and private institutions.
7. Sustainability
Integration with NBTS Strategic Plan 2026 -2030 ensures national ownership.
Rotary service projects provide continued advocacy and resource mobilization.
Institutional partnerships (banks, chambers, oil companies) sustain donor drives.
Youth champions institutionalized as community health advocates.
8. Budget Framework (Indicative)
Donor Mobilization Campaigns: $150,000
Equipment Procurement (3 centers): $300,000
Training & Capacity Building: $100,000
Monitoring & Evaluation: $50,000
Total Estimated Budget: $600,000
9. Alignment with Rotary Guidelines
Community Assessment: Based on NBTS Strategic Plan and national data.
Eligible Activities: Prevention of communicable diseases, health system strengthening, medical equipment projects.
Sustainability: Integration with NBTS, institutional partnerships, Rotary service continuity.
Monitoring & Evaluation: Clear indicators (donors mobilized, units collected, TTIs screened, centers equipped).
10. Conclusion
This project represents a strategic partnership between Rotary Club of Juba Airport and the South Sudan Blood Donor Society to strengthen blood safety and availability nationwide. By mobilizing donors and equipping blood bank centers, the initiative will save lives, reinforce national health systems, and embody Rotary commitment to disease prevention and treatment.
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