Roseau, Dominica, 15 November 2024 (PAHO) – The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) recently conducted a simultaneous mission in Dominica, focusing on strengthening the national blood bank and evaluating the medical gas systems.
During the opening ceremony held 11 November 2024, Acting Chief Medical Officer (CMO Ag) Dr. Lynora Fevrier Drigo, speaking on behalf of the Ministry of Health stressed the importance of access to safe blood and blood products to universal health, and thanked the people of Dominica for their volunteerism in this area.
“The Ministry of Health takes the opportunity to not only congratulate the team at the national laboratory, but also the people as blood donors, with 1035 donations in 2021, 1162 in 2022 and 1222 in 2023”.
Also present at the opening ceremony was the senior leadership of the Ministry of Health and the Dominica China Friendship Hospital (DCFH) including the Permanent Secretary Dr. Laura Esprit, Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Ms. Nancy Francis, Hospital Medical Director, Dr. Ruby Blanc and Lab Superintendent Mr. Eric Carbon.
The mission was led by Dr. Harold Alvarez, PAHO consultant, accompanied by Dr. Vishwanath Partapsingh, PAHO Advisor for Health Systems and Services, and Dr. Nicole Slack-Liburd, PAHO Country Program Specialist for Dominica. Speaking on behalf of PAHO, Dr. Partapsingh reiterated PAHO’s continued support to Dominica and spoke of the importance of the interconnectivity of health, hence the hosting of simultaneous missions on blood safety and medical air.
The assessment of the national blood bank took place on the 13 November 2024 at the DCFH. Over eighty (80) health professionals were trained, including physicians, nurses, medical technologists and students. There were presentations on blood transfusions including clinical guidelines for platelet transfusion, plasma collection and storage, and the causes of transfusion reactions.
The blood bank mission ran concurrently with the mission to assess medical gases, which was led by Engineer Lucio Brito. Deliverables of this mission include the development of a roadmap for the procurement and maintenance of equipment which can contribute to positive clinical outcomes. Site visits to the oxygen plant, hyperbaric chamber, and various hospital wards were don as part of the assessment.
Final reports of the assessments with recommendations will be available to the Ministry of Health in December 2024.
