Milestone achieved through UN Agency collaboration and handover of state-of-the-art blood Bank to Somalia

SOMALIA – In partnership with several UN agencies and partners, the government has opened the country’s first bank in 30 years to bolster the country’s critical medical infrastructure.

The intiative was led by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), the World Health Organisation (WHO), United Nations Office for Project Services, the Swedish Government, with additional support from Governments of Switzerland, Finland, and Italy.

The state-of-the-art blood bank in the country’s capital, Mogadishu marks a significant milestone in bolstering the nation’s healthcare infrastructure and addressing critical medical challenges.

Using more than US$3 million in funding from UNFPA & its partners and following technical guidance from the World Health Organization, UNOPS implemented the project by planning, designing, constructing the national blood bank as well as procuring its equipment.

H.E. Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre officially inaugurated the revival of the National Blood Bank in Mogadishu, which had been non-existent for the past three decades.

At the inauguration ceremony, Prime Minister Barre emphasized his government’s commitment in improving healthcare access and the crucial role the National Blood Bank would play in enhancing the nation’s public health sector, particularly in dealing with critical medical emergencies that necessitate the presence of such a vital national facility.

The Prime Minister expressed gratitude to UNFPA, WHO and UNOPS for facilitating the Blood Bank facility.

The importance of a well-equipped blood bank cannot be overstated as it serves as a lifeline in a variety of medical scenarios, such as surgeries, trauma cases, complications during childbirth, and the treatment of patients with chronic illnesses.

The just inaguratede National Blood Bank has a 50-unit-per-day production capacity and a storage capacity of 6,500 units at any given time. 

Moreover, this will ensure a reliable blood supply that is essential for ensuring that healthcare professionals have immediate access to safe blood products, thus reducing the risk of preventable deaths.

The lack of safe and sufficient blood supplies has been a long-standing challenge, making it difficult for people to receive necessary medical care and even costing lives.

The blood bank will ensure the availability of life-saving blood products and scale up the country’s overall healthcare infrastructure. 

Notably, it addresses two crucial concerns. First, it effectively closes the gap between supply and demand for safe blood supply. Second, the blood bank will ensure adequate management of the safety concerns associated with inadequately screened blood. 

Additionally, by enhancing emergency response capabilities and improving maternal health outcomes, the blood bank will serve as a critical resource to save lives.

Operating and sustaining a blood bank will undoubtedly present its share of challenges and these include ensuring financial sustainability, managing infrastructure and supply chains, ensuring quality control, maintaining a skilled workforce, raising public awareness, and staying abreast of technological advancements. 

However, through strong commitment and collaboration, we can overcome these challenges and ensure a reliable and life-saving blood supply to enhance healthcare outcomes in Somalia.

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