VNRBD UPDATE 2001 to 2012 by Cecilia Tan

Update on VNRBD Overview of involvement Towards 100% voluntary blood donation - Global Framework for Action Regional Network of Donor Recruiters Milestones achievements GAP Report Way forward

Overview of involvement The International Federation’s Secretariat in Geneva has a focus on advocacy for voluntary blood donation towards: Achieving 100% voluntary blood donation for sake of blood safety Phasing out paid and family replacement donors Improving donor retention rates About 100 National Societies are involved at country level with blood service delivery or donor recruitment with some responsible for the blood programme Promotion of best practices in voluntary blood donation to: Equip NS with learning opportunities in donor recruitment and motivation Implementation of the MaD Toolkit Quarterly newsletter 0 Donor Recruitment International Initiative taken by WHO & IFRC in 2003 to develop a 5-day ‘Training of trainers’ workshop to assist countries in developing a voluntary blood donation programme Total of 3 national workshops and 1 regional workshop were conducted from 2004 to 2006

Regional Network of Donor Recruiters Form in 2001 by the IFRC Regional Health Unit in Bangkok to enhance involvement of National Societies in blood programme by providing key blood managers with the necessary management and technical skills, and by strengthening regional co-operation through regional initiatives and programmes Objectives Capacity building for NS Blood Programme Managers in the management of voluntary donor recruitment Mapping and facilitation of the effective use of regional blood expertise Networking for information and exchange of experiences Meets once every two years, hosted by different NS. In 2005 RHU in BKK supported the request for annual meeting.

Countries with structured VNRBD programme in our region Indonesia Lao PDR Myanmar Philippines Singapore Thailand Vietnam

GAP mapping 2009/10 The role of RC/RC in VNRBD

A Global Framework for Action "Towards 100% Voluntary Non-Remunerated Blood Donation" Jointly developed by WHO and IFRC Based on outcomes of regional, sub-regional and national workshops Four broad goals 20 strategies Action points for each strategy

Four Broad Goals Goal A: Create an enabling environment for 100% VNRBD Goal B: Foster a culture of voluntary blood donation Goal C: Build and maintain a safe, sustainable voluntary donor base Goal D: Provide quality donor service and care

Goal A: Enabling environment Strategy 1: Advocate for 100% VNRDB Strategy 2: Establish a national voluntary blood donor programme Strategy 3: Strengthen collaboration, partnerships and networks

Goal B: Culture of voluntary blood donation Strategy 4: Understand your blood donors Strategy 5: Identify target donor populations Strategy 6: Develop communication strategies for donor education and community involvement Strategy 7: Build partnerships with the media Strategy 8: Mobilize community partners and create networks Strategy 9: Maximize the impact of World Blood Donor Day and national blood donor events

Goal C: Safe, sustainable donor base Strategy 10: Educate, motivate and recruit new blood donors Strategy 11: Mobilize youth as a new generation of voluntary blood donors Strategy 12: Convert eligible family/replacement donors to voluntary blood donors Strategy 13: Recall infrequent, inactive and deferred donors Strategy 14: Retain suitable voluntary blood donors Strategy 15: Recognize blood donors' contribution to society

Goal D: Quality donor service and care Strategy 16: Make it convenient for donors to give blood Strategy 17: Reach out to donors through mobile donor sessions Strategy 18: Assess donors' suitability to donate blood Strategy 19: Provide blood donor counseling Strategy 20: Make blood donation a safe and pleasant experience

Milestones in VNRBD 2000: Ten year partnership between IFRC and WHO to advocate 100% VNRBD 2001: 1st regional VNRBD forum in Singapore 2002: 2nd regional VNRBD meeting in Bangkok 2004: First VNRBD TOT workshop in Singapore 2005: 3rd regional VNRBD meeting in Vientiane, Lao 2006: 4th regional VNRBD meeting in Phnom Penh, Cambodia 2006: First World Blood Donor Day 2006: Promotion of Youth Donor Club or Club 25 in our region, First Youth Donor Meeting in Bangkok 2007: 5th regional VNRBD meeting in Yangon, Myanmar 2008: 6th regional VNRBD meeting in Manila, Philippines 2009: 7th regional VNRBD meeting in Jakarta, Indonesia 2010: 8th regional VNRBD meeting in Bangkok, Thailand 2011: 9th regional VNRBD meeting in Hanoi, Vietnam 2012: 10th regional VNRBD meeting in Kathmandu, Nepal 13

Youth initiatives in this region Introduction of youth donor clubs Philippines – Pledge 25 (1990) Singapore – YDC (2006) Thailand – YDC (2007) Myanmar – Pledge 25 (2008) Lao – YDC (2009) Vietnam – Youth Association (2010) Youth initiatives such as youth donor clubs or Pledge 25 or Club 25 has also been developed in many countries in this region. Philippines is the first to launch the Pledge 25 which encourages youth to commit to donating 25 donations by the time they turn 25 years old. Singapore has also launched its Youth Donor Club in 2006 with the aim of encourage youth to be socially responsible by participating in blood donation and blood donation activities. Thailand, Myanmar and Lao are in the final stages of launching their youth donor clubs

The IFRC supported the first South East Asia Youth Blood Donor Workshop, hosted by the Thai Red Cross, in conjunction with the WBDD celebration in Thailand. Currently, there is a proposal for regular youth forum to be held so that youths from the different countries can come together to network, share experiences, successes and failures and to draw strength and ideas from each other in encouraging more youths to make blood donation and integral part of their lives and help make a difference in their community.

Common Challenges in development of voluntary blood donation programme Lack or no support from leaderships to implement VNRBD program Lack or no fund for resources to implement VNRBD program No specific personnel appointed to manage the programme Lack of trained/professional staff dedicated to conduct donor recruitment/motivation activities Lack of IEC materials to support work Some of the common challenges faced by NS in the development of………………….

Fear of blood donation and the effects of blood donation Common Challenges in recruitment and retention of voluntary blood donors Lack off or no knowledge and information on importance voluntary blood donation Fear of blood donation and the effects of blood donation Convenience factor Trust factors Bad donation experiences High deferrals Common challenges in donor recruitment and motivation are……………….

NS involvement in blood programmes: 2010 GAP Report A. Full Blood Service Provision Governance Advocacy for appropriate use Product distribution Laboratory testing Component preparation Collection services/donor care Donor recruitment Promotional campaigns Education and awareness Involvement in WBDD B. Systematic Blood Donor Recruitment C. Advocacy for VNRBD Donor recruitment Promotional campaigns Education and awareness Involvement in WBDD Promotional campaigns Education and awareness Involvement in WBDD

What is GAP? The Federation formed the Global Advisory Panel on Corporate Governance and Risk Management for Blood Services in Red Cross/Red Crescent Societies (GAP) in May 2001. GAP Vision To promote safe, capable and self sustainable blood programmes based on the principle of voluntary non remunerated blood donation

What does GAP do? Provides technical advice in terms of corporate governance and risk management to NS blood programmes Promotes knowledge sharing, networking, partnerships between blood services and with external partners Develops tools and guidelines Focus on level A and B blood programmes

New reporting obligations GAP’s role is to assist NS in identifying key risks. Identification of risk is via: Self assessment, in country observation, third party GAP confirms the risk with the relevant NS Where necessary, GAP reports the risk according to the Blood policy. GAP support provided to most at risk NS

Resources: GAP manual Development of Safe and Sustainable National Blood Programmes Provides guidance for NS on managing blood program related risks. Chapter 5 promotes VNRBD in building a sustainable donor base and also addresses donor health and counselling risks. Refer: IFRC website: https://fednet.ifrc.org/en/resources/health-and-care/blood/materials-and-tools/

GAP Assistance Support available Advice – access to global panel of experts Resources/tools – generic or country specific / tailored Twinning/buddy program of sister NSBS. Sharing of ideas/solutions Priority country support – NS identified as most in need are prioritised to receive GAP support; (provision of in-country programs eg assistance in negotiations with MoH, strategic planning, technical support)

How to contact GAP or request assistance? Email GAP Secretariat: gapsecretariat@redcrossblood.org.au

Way Forward for VNRBD? Almost 100% VNRBD in our region New Role of GAP sustainability New Role of GAP Relevance to TRC/JRC Safe Blood Symposium (3 yearly)