SBFA partners with Hema-Quebec to provide strong support for blood safety and donor programs in Africa

Sep 9 2009

Safe Blood for Africa Foundation (SBFA) and Hema-Quebec have announced the signing of a formal joint agreement to provide even stronger support for blood safety and donor programs in Africa.

Since 1999, SBFA has worked diligently to support blood safety and blood donor programs throughout Africa. Hema-Quebec began contributing to the Safe Blood for Africa Blood Safety Initiatives in Africa in 2005 by providing experts in the field of donor recruitment and marketing to assist in the Project. Hema-Quebec supports SBFA's team of experts with their own and expands SBFA's multi-lingual capabilities, especially in francophone countries.

"SBFA recognizes and appreciates what Hema-Quebec has done to improve conditions and access to safe blood for the people of Africa," Jeff Busch, Chairman & Chief Executive Officer of SBFA said today. "By formalizing our already strong working relationship, together we can make even more of an impact, helping to provide a safe and adequate supply of blood for transfusion to more people throughout the continent."

Based on "this mutual vision to make a difference by ensuring that a safe and adequate blood supply is available to everyone in Africa, the agreement continues and memorializes the need to continue to develop voluntary non-remunerated blood donation (VNRBD) programs, and therefore training on social marketing, including informing, motivating and recruiting," said Dr. Francine Decary, President and Chief Executive Officer of Hema-Quebec.

Hema-Quebec offered these services to SBFA to expand its capacity to offer its expertise for greater reach to initiatives particularly among French-speaking African populations. Hema-Quebec will provide relevant technical assistance and training in this context.