Mendami – Project to strengthen the blood transfusion system in Libya

Project

Published on February 5 2020

Project start date: December 1 2019

Status
Closed
Project end date: November 30 2022
Financing amount (Euro): 1.826m
Country and region: Libya, Africa
Funders: European Union, Government of France

This project aims to strengthen the Libyan health system by helping to improve capacities in the blood transfusion sector. The ultimate objective is to provide people in Libya with blood and blood products with an appropriate quality and in sufficient quantities.

A need to improve access to healthcare in Libya

Beyond the economic sphere, Libya’s geopolitical context has also led to a gradual and complex weakening of medical and paramedical activities. Since 2011, access to quality healthcare has only risen intermittently in certain communities supported by NGOs and has deteriorated nationwide.

Since 2018, Expertise France has been working with the European Union and Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs (MEAE) to help strengthen Libya’s national blood transfusion system. This operation is being conducted in close cooperation with the technical experts and national and international stakeholders in this major medical field, where there are numerous and continuous needs.

Financed by the European Union and MEAE, this project aims to improve the blood collection and use process among the civilian population, respecting international standardised operating procedures. It is also focusing on mobilising more voluntary donors to meet Libya’s blood transfusion needs.

What does Mendami mean?

Men Dammi (by my blood) is a frequently used term in Arab-Muslim culture to express feelings, compassion, empathy and sensitivity towards the troubles of another person and give them moral support. Its use as the name for the project as a whole makes reference to the objectives defined for the transfer of technical skills and awareness-raising among the Libyan population.

Three areas of operation: production, clinical use and collection

To contribute to improving the quality of care in Libya, Expertise France is working with two blood establishments and in certain hospital blood banks in the following focus areas:

Supporting the phasing-in of uniform production processes;
Supporting the phasing-in of an appropriate clinical use of blood and blood components;
Strengthening blood and blood component collection systems from regular and low-risk unpaid volunteer donors, improving donation systems and effectively managing donors, including care and advice.

One of the main issues involves Expertise France’s ability to implement certain local activities from the agency’s office in Tunis, as the security situation does not make it possible to consider on-site visits by international teams. A designated team is therefore working from Tunis on the implementation of the activities in continuous consultation with the Libyan technical officials, and a local coordination team is acting as the interface for training and information in the medical facilities.

Expertise France has also undertaken to develop an effective monitoring-evaluation system able to provide essential information for the implementation of the activities. In addition, the agency ensures that the local coordination team facilitates the communication of information in the medical facilities.

The Tunis office will also organise scientific training for Libyan medical staff, which is essential for improving practices in the area of blood transfusion.