The construction which lasted for less than ten months was funded by the Italian Agency for Development and Corporation (AICS) and implemented by the Italian Association of Solidarity Among People (AISPO).
According to the respective speakers including the Minister of Health and Sanitation, Prof. Wurie who delivered the keynote address, the blood transfusion center will cater for the preservation and safety of blood to save lives of especially pregnant women, lactating mothers and children under five years.
Speaking in his capacity as Head of National Safe Blood Services in Sierra Leone, Prof. Sahr Gevao explained that the cost of the project is 1,3 million Euro and that it too less than ten months to construct, adding that this cost included training of six laboratory technicians on modern techniques in blood transfusion, development of standard software for blood donors among other important methods and techniques.
He maintained that with the opening of the center, they as health practitioners and health service providers and givers are anticipating that blood transmission will commence after the installation of the relevant equipment and completion of the necessary training. He added that he believes that the center will also be used for sophisticated testing and diagnosing metrological disorders such as sickle-cell anemia and other disorders. He went on to say that blood is very useful in therapeutic tool for pregnant women with complications of delivery, but can prove dangerous if not properly handled.
On his own part, the Project Manager of AISPO, Stefan Ferroni informed his audience that together with the current Minister of Works and Public Assets, Peter Bayuku Conteh, they visited the Health Minister, Prof. Alpha Tejan Wurie to discuss the possibility the possibility of building a blood transfusion unit for the Western Area and that the result was the commissioning of the Western Region Blood Transfusion Center located at PCMH.
Briefly addressing the audience was President of Sierra Leone Association of Voluntary Blood Donors, Desmond Lewis. He commended the various partners for the construction of the blood transfusion center but lamented that it was unfortunate that despite the sacrifices made by voluntary blood donors, not much was being done by the government and other partners towards the voluntary blood donors, adding that before now voluntary blood donors received complimentary assistance but that this is no longer forthcoming. He used the opportunity to prevail on the government and its partners to do more to boost the lives of voluntary blood donors.
Delivering his keynote, Minister of Health and Sanitation, Prof. Alpha Tejan Wurie maintained that the completion of the blood transfusion center for the Western Region is a manifestation of the emphasis the SLPP New Direction Government is making in the area of providing basic health services, adding that the government of President Julius Maada Bio is working round the clock to ensure that within the next ten years every Sierra Leone can be able to access basic health care services at every region.
“As a government, we will start addressing rapid rate of response for blood issues in the Western Area. This project will progress to do various blood components. We will get the equipment hopefully next year to do blood separation,” the Health Minister said.
Cutting the tape to the blood transfusion center, traditional and cultural dancing climaxed the event.
