Clinical Use of Blood: A Different Approach

Cees Th. Smit Sibinga is an accomplished clinical hematologist and a renowned specialist in transfusion medicine. He holds the position of Special Professor for the International Development of Transfusion Medicine at the University Medical Centre Groningen in the Netherlands. Within this role, he actively contributes to the advancement of transfusion medicine and quality systems. One of his primary areas of focus is the management of transfusion medicine in economically constrained countries, a passion he has pursued since 1980 through his work with esteemed organizations such as the World Health Organisation (WHO), the World Federation of Hemophilia (WFH), and the International Consortium for Blood Safety (ICBS). For 25 years, Professor Smit Sibinga served as the Managing Director of the Sanquin Division Blood Bank Noord Nederland, located in Groningen, the Netherlands. During his tenure, the Blood Bank assumed responsibility for the WHO Collaborating Centre forBlood Transfusion and the WFH International Hemophilia Training Centre in Groningen, starting in 1993. In 2001, the Blood Bank achieved another significant milestone as it became the inaugural Collaborating Centre of the ICBS. Notably, Professor Smit Sibinga played a pivotal role in establishing the Dutch Inspection and Accreditation Programme for Blood Banks, along with the Haemovigilance System. This pioneering initiative led to the accreditation of the first non-US civilian blood centre by the AABB in 1981. Subsequently, he continued to contribute to the AABB inspection and accreditation program as a lead inspector/auditor until 2004. Professor Smit Sibinga founded and served as the first director and operations manager of the Sanquin Blood Supply Foundation Advisory Service and the Academic Institute for International Development of Transfusion Medicine (IDTM) at the University of Groningen, the Netherlands. Additionally, from 2000 to 2004, he assumed the role of regional coordinator for the WHO Global Quality Management Project in the European Region. Moreover, he held the distinction of being the inaugural Vice President and Director of the AABB Consulting Services Division, responsible for providing quality and process improvement solutions in transfusion medicine and related biological therapies worldwide. Since 1980, Professor Smit Sibinga has been extensively involved in international short-term consulting missions, medium- and long-term projects, with a particular focus on the development of transfusion medicine in economically constrained countries across Asia, Eastern Europe, Africa, the Western Pacific, and the Middle East. The majority of these missions and projects were conducted and successfully completed under the auspices of the WHO or at the explicit request of the respective countries' ministries of health.

Yetmgeta Eyayou Abdella is an accomplished physician and public health expert in the donation and management of blood and other products of human origin. He holds Doctor of Medicine (MD) and Master of Public Health (MPH) degrees from Addis Ababa University in Ethiopia; a visiting physician certificate in blood banking and transfusion medicine from Emory University in the US; and Master degree in Donation and Transplantation of Organs, Tissues and Cells from the University of Barcelona in Spain. For over 20 years, he has been working for the World Health Organization supporting countries to develop national systems for transfusion and transplantation services. The support to countries mainly focuses on establishing effective organization and governance for the ethical management and clinical use of blood and other products of human origin. He has been part of several efforts by WHO and other stakeholders in shaping and implementing policies, strategies, plans and technical standards, norms, and recommendations in transfusion and transplantation fields at country, regional and global levels. Dr Abdella is a member of several initiatives implemented through International Society of Blood Transfusion (ISBT), Association for the Advancement of Blood and Biotherapies (AABB), African Society of Blood Transfusion (AfSBT) and Arab Transfusion Medicine Forum (ATMF).