Improving Education and Research in Haematology and Blood Transfusion in Africa: Panacea to Improving the Health and Wellbeing of Patients in the Region
Abstract
Africa bears a heavy burden of diverse diseases which includes blood diseases that overwhelm the healthcare system. A multitude of factors were believed to be responsible for this burden and it includes a lack of trained healthcare workforce, multi-disciplinary research on diseases facing the region, and a dearth of advanced diagnostic and clinical services for haematologic disorders. Measures taken to improve the situation includes increased health budgetary spending which had marginally improved. The improvement thus far achieved in haematology and blood transfusion education and research need to be determined. Three databases, namely Google Scholar, PubMed and Core, were searched for literature on haematology and blood transfusion education and research. About 2616 articles were identified, of which 7 articles were included for the review following screening and eligibility assessment by independent reviewers. The articles reviewed revealed that there was a significant improvement in haematology and blood transfusion education and research. This has translated to an improved health workforce, service delivery and research capacity and profile. However, these gains were not quantifiably presented to judge the real progress against any set standards. To fully understand the progress made and the levels that need to be reached, a comprehensive, multifaceted, and multinational study that explicitly explores the improvement measures taken and their consequential outcome is necessary.
Downloads
References
Aikins, A.D.G., Unwin, N., Agyemang, C., Allotey, P., Campbell, C. and Arhinful, D. (2010). Tackling Africa’s chronic disease burden: from the local to the global. Globalisation and health, 6(1), 1-7.
Alison, D., Daniel, A., David, M., Justin, A., Shirleyowusu, O., Exnevia, G., Imelda, B. (2013). T-REC: Strengthening Capacity for Blood Transfusion Research in Ghana and Zimbabwe. Africa Sanguine, 16(2): 14-18.
Bein, M.A., Dogan, U., Gbolahan, O., & Wagdi, K. (2017). Healthcare spending and health outcomes: evidence from selected East African countries. Health Sci., 17(1), 247-254. https://doi.org /10.4314/ahs.v17i1.30
Brown, T. M., Fee, E., & Stepanova, V. (2016). Halfdan Mahler: Architect and defender of the World Health Organization “Health for All by 2000” declaration of 1978. American journal of public health, 106 (1), 38-39.
Buser, J. M. (2017). The need for haematology nurse education in Low-and Middle-Income
Gouda, H. N., Charlson, F., Sorsdahl, K., Ahmadzada, S., Ferrari, A.J., Erskine, H., Leung, J., Santamauro, D., Lund, C., Aminde, L.N., Mayosi, B.M., Kengne, A. P., Harris, M., Achoki, T., Wiysonge, C. S., Stein, D. J., & Whiteford, H. (2019). Burden of non-communicable diseases in sub-Saharan Africa, 1990-2017: results from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2017. Lancet, (10), e1375-e1387. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2214-109X(19)30374-2.
Greysen, S. R., Dovlo, D., Olapade-Olaopa, E. O., Jacobs, M., Sewankambo, N., & Mullan, F. (2011). Medical education in sub-Saharan Africa: a literature review. Medical Education, 45(10), 973- 986. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2923.2011.04039.x
Hahn, R. A., & Truman, B.I. (2015). Education Improves Public Health and Promotes Health Equity. International journal of health services: planning, administration, evaluation, 45 (4), 657–678. https://doi.org/10.1177/0020731415585986
Izet, M., Milan, M., & Belma, M. (2008). Evidence Based medicine – new Approaches and Challenges. Professional Paper; 6 (4): 219-225 https://doi.org/10.5455/aim.
Kanmounye, U. S., Jumbam, D. T., Endomba, F. T., Tochie, J. N., Mbonda, A. N., Ghomsi, N. C., & Temgoua, M. (2020). Advancing medical research in sub-Saharan Africa: barriers, facilitators, and proposed solutions. PAMJ-Clinical Medicine, 3, 83.
Lancet Haematology (2021). Priorities in Haematological care in sub-Saharan Africa. https//www.thelancet.com/series/haematology-africa.accessed 29/6/2023.
Lubega, J., Airewele, G., Frugé, E., Wilson-Lewis, K., Ishigami, E., Cubbage, M., Waswa, P., Kambugu, J., Allen, C.E., Slone, J., Mehta, P.S., and Poplack, D.G. (2018). Capacity building: a novel paediatric haematology-oncology fellowship program in sub-Saharan Africa. Blood advances, 2(Suppl1), 11– 13. https://doi.org/10.1182/bloodadvances.2018GS112742
Luzzatto, L., Fasola, F., & Tshilolo, L. (2011). Haematology in Africa. British journal of haematology, 154(6), 777–782. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2141.2011.08763.x
Makani, J., & Roberts, D. J. (2016). Haematology in Africa. Haematology/Oncology Clinics, 30(2), 457-475.
Makani, J., Lyimo, M., Magesa, P., & Roberts, D. J. (2017). Strengthening medical education in haematology and blood transfusion: postgraduate programmes in Tanzania. British journal of haematology, 177(6), 838-845.
Moher, D., Liberati, A., Tetzlaff, J., Altman, D.G. (2009). Preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses: the PRISMA statement. Ann Intern Med., 151(4), 264±9.
Rizk, S.H. (2018). Challenges to laboratory haematology practice: Egypt perspective. International journal of laboratory haematology, 40, 126-136.
Roberts, D. J., Cooper, N., & Bates, I. (2017). Haematology in Lower and Middle Income Countries. British Journal of Haematology, 177(6), 833-835. https://doi.org/10.1111/bjh.14639.
Talib, Z., Narayan, L., & Harrod, T. (2019). Postgraduate medical education in sub-Saharan Africa: a scoping review spanning 26 years and lessons learned. Journal of graduate medical education, 11(4s), 34-46.
Tluway, F., & Makani, J. (2017). Sickle cell disease in Africa: an overview of the integrated approach to health, research, education and advocacy in Tanzania, 2004-2016. British journal of haematology; 177(6): 919–929. https://doi.org/10.1111/bjh.14594)
Vanitha, R., Marion, V., Hazel, B., Patrick, K., Elena, N., Arwa, Z. A., Jeannie, C., Karin, V. D. B. (2021). Transfusion Medicine and Blood Banking and Training for Blood Establishment Laboratory Staff: A Review of Selected Countries in Africa. Transfusion, 61(6), 1955-1965.
WHO. (2021). Sickle Cell Disease | WHO | Regional Office for Africa. https://www.afro.who.int/health-topics/sickle-cell-disease
World Health Organization. (2010). The Abuja declaration: ten years on. World Health Organization. https://apps.who.int/iris/handle/10665/341162
World Health Organization. (2013). State of Health Financing in the African Region. https://www.afro.who.int/publications/state-health-financing-african-region
Copyright (c) 2023 Gimba Waziri, Yakubu Abdurrahman, Alhaji Bukar, Audu Abdullahi Bukar, Bagudo Ibrahim Aliyu, Abdulgani Zakaria
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
