Crisis ManagementExperience

ofEgyptian Blood

Services

by: Dr F Moftah

Background, 1World wide Promotion of Safe

and Sustainable Blood System

Global: Man Made and Natural Unrest & Disasters

Risk is the Probability of Adverse Event will happen

Crisis is the happening of an adverse event

Background,2People in all societies have the right to

expect that any blood and blood products supplied to them, be provided in a way that is safe, sustainable and supports their communities and their health systems

Health security is a fundamental and indispensable prerequisite to global, national and individual development

Ref; IFRCRCS

Egypt Experience,1Presence of Contingency PlanStereotype Scenarios- Major Accident- Political TriggerAlways practiced

[N.B. Natural Incidents are not anticipated]

Egypt Experience,2Crisis planning is an essential part of

Egyptian MOH. It includes all measures to respond to sudden increase in demand under all circumstances.

Egyptian National Blood Transfusion Services (ENBTS) after being reconstructed, established a contingency plan to deal with any crisis. However; plan's scope focuses on specific incidents/accidents but not nationwide disaster.

Introduction (1)ENBTS faced a unique situation

during January 2011, [Egyptian Revolution]. It was nationwide crisis including all governorates.

ENBTS management team dealt with it on an ad hoc basis.

800 deaths were reported, and over 6,000 have been injured in different governorates during the first week of the revolution.

Introduction (2) Situation of instability lasted

more than a month [ and still !!! ].

Instability passed through different stages.

The Organization's vulnerability and capacity; supported proper handling of the situation.

MOH Officials disappeared

Introduction (3)Examples of difficult situationsStaff stranded in homes and in

work place.Violent demonstrations in front of

NBT center. Staff strikes, and strange

demands.Banks closed, no salaries for staff.Interrupted supplies delivery.No gas for vehicles.Many others

AimImproving the response to

unexpected disaster situations.

Reducing vulnerability, is achievable by incorporation of blood services in the health /national crisis plans.

Material & Method (1)

Stage1; Jan 26 till Feb 1, 93 units collected at NBTC (in Cairo)No telecommunication, cellular phones,

internet.Curfew was declared and national security

was deteriorated. Crisis management began from top of

organizational hierarchy and immediate action plans for possible consequences were prepared by management team.

Possible measures to maintain adequate blood.

Curfew hindered blood collection through mobile drives, & stock distribution.

Material & Method (2)

Stage2; Feb 2 till 17, 2798 units collected at NBTCAdequate blood supply was achieved by calling

for donation through media (TV), organizing secured blood drives, encouraging in-house donation, utilizing stocks of blood, consumables, testing kits and reagents within NBTS network.

Overwhelming reaction of donors and organizations for donation was managed by mobilizing staff to handle sudden donors' influx requiring accelerated drawing to meet emergent need.

Contingency team in all departments handled work over load.

Material & Method (3)

Stage3; Feb 18 till March 2, 388 units collected at NBTCPreventing blood wastage

through this stage was achievable by slowing down collection rate, rescheduling blood drives.

Conducting workshops for donation staff to come up with better performance plan of action.

ResultsENBTS was capable to overcome hazards

of triggering events.Neither shortage nor wastage of blood

was experienced.Collection during 3 stages of crisis

reached 3270 donations from organized blood drives, 544 donations in-house at NBTC. It was sufficient and met demands.

4200 units were collected during the same time in the previous year.

Regional Blood Centers all over Egypt followed the same pattern.

ConclusionMost of BTS crisis plans are designed to deal

with localized incidents assuring high certainty of information and communication.

Situation in Egypt highlighted the importance of having alternative telecommunication solution for the network (Intranet work)

Stocks should be available in hot spots that receive emergency cases outside NBTS.

Integration of NBTS plan within National Health plan is mandatory.

Proportion between blood collection and demand should be optimized to prevent shortage/wastage during different stages of crisis.

RecommendationsRisk management is

important for modern BTS.Scenarios should include

untraditional stories.Contingency plan should be

integrated with National Health one.

Learn lessons from other situations.

THANK YOUTHANK YOU