Zambia to host second African scientific symposium

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Zambia will tomorrow host the second African scientific symposium on blood transfusion services.

The international event will bring together blood transfusion practitioners and experts from various countries including Francophone and Anglophone nations.

Announcing the development to journalists in Lusaka today during a media breakfast, Zambia National Blood Transfusion Services (ZNBTS) Director Joseph Mulenga disclosed that the two days event will run from the 16th to 17th April this year.

Dr. Mulenga said the international event will be held under the auspices of the African Society for Blood Transfusion (AFSBT) in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region.

He disclosed that Zambia was the second country to host the symposium since the inaugural symposium which was held in Abidjan, Ivory Coast in April 2012.

Dr. Mulenga explained that AFSBT was intending to make the symposium an annual event, alternating between Anglophone and Francophone countries.

ZNBTS Director said the objective of the symposium was to discuss blood safety and laboratory strategies that will contribute towards the promotion of safe blood products.

Dr. Mulenga stressed that the information shared during the symposium will go a long way in improving blood safety in Africa and in the attainment of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) on health.

He said Minister of Health Dr. Joseph Kasonde is expected to grace the two days international event which will be held at Radisson Blu Hotel in Lusaka.

Meanwhile Dr. Mulenga implored the general public to report any person found selling donated blood in health institutions.

He said his organisation was aware of rumours of health personal that are alleged to be selling donated blood.

Dr. Mulenga insisted that no person has the right to sell blood as the cost of testing the safety of blood is passed on to government.

And Dr. Mulenga said ZNBTS managed to meet its blood collection target in the previous quarter.

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