ational Blood Bank (BNS) chief Jose Arsenio says a staff shortage is causing major problems for the blood bank, particularly for its mobile donor service.
He said the BNS was responsible for the distribution of blood to Timor-Leste’s entire health system but had only nine staff. driver
“We have a big problem with human resources as there are only eight staff in our rotation.
There are two people for one shift and one in the morning,” Arsenio said in Bidau, Dili.
He said the standard dictated a minimum of three staff were needed for blood collection while the mobile donor operation needed at least five staff to deliver the best service.
Arsenio said blood stocks were too low to treat all patients in Timor-Leste health facilities.
In February, 29 packets of A-type blood, eight packets of B-type, six of AB-type and 22 packets of O-type were available.
Arsenio said while the BNS was responsible for serving an enormous geographical area, it was still only a small unit operating under the National Hospital of Guido Valadares (HNGV).
HNGV general director Domingos Soares recognized the concern and the need for hospital administration to work with the Ministry of Health to find a solution.
“Everything requires an effort. This takes a long time; if today we don’t talk about it tomorrow it will exist in our face immediately,” he said.
