World ReportBlood transfusion in Kenya faces an uncertain future
Section snippets
Why PEPFAR is transitioning
Kenya has the joint fourth-largest HIV/AIDS epidemic in the world, alongside Mozambique and Uganda, according to UNAIDS, but PEPFAR has decided to cut its spending on HIV programmes in sub-Saharan Africa. PEPFAR said it has invested billions in Kenya since 2004. Countries in east Africa, especially Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda, rely heavily on PEPFAR funding for their HIV/AIDS projects. “Since 2004, PEPFAR has contributed over $6 billion to support Kenya's response to HIV/AIDS”, which has
A plethora of problems
According to PEPFAR, “the Government of Kenya will need to absorb approximately $400 000 in commodities, personnel, and other blood safety-related costs in this process” and “the [Kenyan Government] possesses the necessary technical capacity to effectively manage this programme autonomously”.
But some are not so convinced. Wang’endo told The Lancet: “90% of blood transfusion funding is under PEPFAR. This includes staff salaries and consumables. About 80% of screening kits for blood transfusion
Who suffers?
Blood-banking expert Kemi Olateru-Olagbegi and public health specialist Victoria Feyikemi said the funding shortfall could further reduce the number of voluntarily donated blood units. This could lead to greater reliance on family replacement—a method that is discouraged by WHO in which relatives of patients who need a blood transfusion donate to replace the units of blood taken from the blood bank. Safety of blood units could also be compromised because HIV testing kits and other diagnostics
A moment for Kenya and Africa
“The Government of Kenya can afford to self-finance KNBTS, but we, as scientists, need to gather compelling evidence that would be presented to the government”, Uyoga said.
Sicily Kariuki, Kenya's Cabinet Secretary for health, said she has discussed the fate of the blood transfusion services in Kenya with Ambassador McCarter. Although details of the meeting were not made public, a top official in the health ministry who asked to remain anonymous told The Lancet that the US Government rejected
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