No More Death Due to Blood Shortage in Rural Areas
Summary: What does this project do?
In Mali, patients needing blood transfusions for severe anemia—often due to malaria in children or postpartum hemorrhage—face major challenges, especially in rural areas. With only one blood bank in the capital, supply is critically insufficient. This project provides free blood transfusions for vulnerable groups, mainly children and women. Launched in June 2024 in Yanfolila (300 km from Bamako, the capital city) for 12 months, it aims for zero deaths, referrals, or evacuations due to blood shortages. The project organizes blood drive campaigns in rural areas, raises awareness about blood donation and transfusion, screens collected blood for hepatitis B and C, syphilis, HIV, and blood type to ensure its safety, and provides transfusion-related supplies to enable patients to receive transfusions free of charge.
Challenge
In 2023, R.S.P.P conducted an assessment of blood needs at Yanfolila District Hospital, revealing critical gaps in access to safe blood. Only 58% of blood requests were fulfilled, and 83% of the unmet cases involved severe anemia. Among the 42% of blood needing patients who did not receive a transfusion, some tragically died, including four postpartum women. Others were referred to Bamako, over 300 km away, or were forced to leave the hospital due to financial or lack blood donor constraints. Moreover, in 30% of cases, blood requested was not delivered until more than 24 hours after the request, delays that critically endangered patients’ lives and compromised emergency care.
Malaria-induced anemia accounted for 52.1% of cases, disproportionately affecting children under five (89.4%), followed by obstetric emergencies (22.5%). A severe donor shortage (41%) and the high cost of systematic screening and transfusion further worsened the crisis. Alarmingly, 20% of healthcare providers reported losing at least one patient due to the unavailability of blood in 2023.
These findings underscore the urgent need for sustainable, community-based solutions to ensure timely and equitable access to safe blood, especially for vulnerable populations.
Solution
R.S.P.P, in collaboration with local authorities, community leaders, and health facilities, launched the transformative “3 Zeros Initiative”, aiming for zero preventable deaths, zero emergency referrals due to blood shortages, and zero stockouts of safe blood at Yanfolila District Hospital. With plans to scale the initiative across other underserved rural areas in Mali, this life-saving program takes a comprehensive approach to blood access.
To tackle the high burden of preventable deaths linked to blood shortages, this project implements an integrated, community-driven strategy. The project conducts regular blood donation campaigns, supported by systematic infection screening to ensure the safety of collected blood for on-site storage at the district hospital. It also provides essential transfusion supplies to maintain reliable access to lifesaving care. The initiative also strengthens the capacity of health workers to detect early signs of anemia, understand referral protocols, and respond efficiently to emergencies. During malaria season, the project organizes health fairs that combine malaria and prenatal care awareness, free consultations, and medicine distribution, especially targeting children under five and pregnant women. Finally, the project invests in building a robust network of voluntary blood donors, ensuring sustainability and long-term resilience of the local health system.
Key Impacts of the Initiative 3 Zéro Project (Over 9 Months):
- Lives Saved: Over a 12-month period, we saved the lives of 842 individuals, including 308 children and 268 women facing obstetric emergencies.
- Improved Access to Safe Blood: Through 12 blood donation campaigns, 1,530 individuals were screened and processed, resulting in the provision of 1,310 safe blood units to respond to 1129 units requested by the Yanfolila District Health Center for 842 patients. This allowed the project to fully meet 100% of the blood product needs.
- Strengthened Disease Prevention and Early Detection: 189 donors were screened for transfusion-transmissible infections, with those testing positive receiving individual counseling and referral to specialized care, contributing to early diagnosis and safer blood donation practices.
- Expanded Access to Primary Healthcare: Four free medical consultation campaigns, combined with medicine donations, benefited 839 vulnerable individuals, including children and pregnant women, improving access to essential health services in underserved communities.
- Established a Sustainable Blood Donation Network: A coordinated volunteer blood donor system was set up across the Yanfolila district, including active branches in 9 local communes gathering 160 volunteer blood donors. This structure promotes sustainability and ongoing voluntary blood donations.
- Enhanced Community Awareness and Engagement: With 52 radio podcasts and over 240 digital media outputs (videos, posters, and messages), the project raised awareness among thousands on the importance of voluntary blood donation, contributing to long-term behavioral change. This enabled us to demystify blood donation and brought about 1222 individuals to donate blood voluntarily beyond blood drive.
- Local Capacity Building:
- 39 Volunteer donor network members were trained on community engagement and blood donation advocacy.
- 36 community health workers in the Bolo Fouta health area received training on the clinical diagnosis and management of anemia, including referral procedures—improving the quality of local healthcare delivery.
Donation Options:
Amount | Description |
$10 | Will cover the cost of supplies for one transfusion |
$15 | Will collect one blood bag/unit of blood from volunteers during blood drive in rural areas |
$20 | Will train a community nurse / volunteer blood donor in remote villages |
$25 | Will cover the systematic screening for HIV, Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, Syphilis, and blood type of one blood unit for a safe and free transfusion |
$30 | Will cover the cost of one free safe blood transfusion to safe a patient in need |
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