Medical doctors, medical laboratory scientists and nurses have been further equipped and exposed to blood transfusion and its outcomes by the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital.

 

They were trained at a two-day workshop which was part of the activities lined up for the 5th Annual Scientific Conference by the Bloodless Medicine and Surgery Society with the theme ‘From Blood Management to Bloodless Medicine – Back to the Future.’

 

The Chairman, Blood Medicine and Surgery Society, Prof. Anthony Udosen, said the forum was organised “to proffer solutions to most unanswered questions concerning evidence-based blood management in our society.” He added, “BMSS is an international multi-disciplinary society of experts in blood transfusion avoidance. “Blood transfusion is associated with adverse outcomes and hazards. Some patients also object to allergenic blood.

“BMSS promotes the science of providing quality health care to patients without the use of allergenic blood with the aim of improving clinical outcomes and protecting patients’ rights in accordance with the World Health Organisation pillars of patient blood management.”

 

A guest lecturer, Prof. Sherri Ozawa, who delivered a keynote lecture on ‘Professional Societies and Blood Transfusion Avoidance – The Paradigm Shift,’ said factors such as cultural, religious and others must be taken into consideration while dealing with blood transfusion.

 

The chairman on the occasion, Prof Roland Ndoma-Egba, said the papers presented and with the enthusiasm showed by participants would go a long way to expose medical staff to bloodless medicine and surgery.