Abstract With the COVID-19 outbreak, AATM took an early initiative to provide the membership instructive recommendations and informative Aide Mémoire Optimizing membership support a survey was sent to 25 pandemic affected member-countries, to collect challenges and approaches on blood supply and transfusion Approach Survey sent to AATM country representatives Five questions focused on in-country blood collection and pandemic situation, diagnosis, treatment and personal protection equipment (PPE), including a snapshot question on disease magnitude;and 2 descriptive questions on challenges and responses to overcome challenges Country classification 2018 UNDP statistical update Human Development Indices/Indicators (HDI) Basic metric statistics Results Response rate: 92%;HDI classification: Low ? 1;Medium ? 9;High ? 9 and Very High ? 4 countries;population range: 540,544-1,380,000,000;blood collection/1000: 2 4-36 1 Ranges/1000: hospital beds, Intensive Care/isolation beds and ventilators respectively: 0 5-8 2;0 019-1 8;0 0007-1 11 All countries had quarantine facilities Sufficient PPE: all but 3 countries Testing facilities: all but 3 countries All but 1 country listed challenges and responses Most common challenges and approaches were respectively shortages in blood donors and supply (19/22), staff safety (13/22);and mass media education and awareness campaigns (21/22), staff education on safety practices and universal precautions (18/22) Conclusion High response from Medium and High HDI countries Major challenges reported: effects of pandemic on blood donors and blood supply, where most countries already were suffering from shortages due to their development state Key approaches: staff education to prevent infection;focused public awareness campaigns to convince donors to keep coming to support the nation?s blood availability during crisis
COVID-19 Pandemic – blood supply challenges and approaches in AATM member countries