Monrovia, Liberia

December 16, 2024

The final Grand Rounds session of the year at John F. Kennedy Medical Center featured an impactful presentation by Dr. Benedict B. Kollee, one of Liberia’s leading clinical pathologists. Dr. Kollee delivered an “eye-opening” lecture on Blood Transfusion Protocol, addressing critical challenges in blood donation and transfusion practices across Liberia.

Dr. Kollee’s presentation illuminated key issues related to blood evaluation, donor safety, and the quality of blood being transfused. He emphasized that ensuring the safety of blood donations remains a pressing concern and outlined vital measures to improve practices in line with standards set by the World Health Organization (WHO), the National Immunization Registry (NIR), and Liberia’s Ministry of Health (MOH).

Among the key takeaways from Dr. Kollee’s presentation were:

• Screening and Donor Qualification: Dr. Kollee stressed the importance of thorough blood screening processes to detect infections such as HIV and Hepatitis A, B, and C. He also outlined criteria for identifying qualified donors to ensure the safety of the blood supply.
• Managing Transfusion Reactions: Acute blood transfusion reactions must be handled with the utmost care. Dr. Kollee highlighted the need to monitor patient responses during transfusions and to halt the procedure if adverse reactions occur. Providing feedback and resuming transfusion with fresh blood when the patient’s condition improves were recommended best practices.
• Preventing Mortality: He warned of the dangers of “blood transfusion overload” and shared preventive measures to reduce associated mortality rates. These measures included adherence to established safety protocols and enhanced patient monitoring.
• Complications and Compatibility: Addressing potential complications such as massive transfusion reactions and ABO incompatibility, Dr. Kollee emphasized the necessity of proper blood typing and cross-matching.

Dr. Kollee’s comprehensive and forward-thinking approach serves as a call to action for Liberia’s medical community to prioritize the safety and effectiveness of blood transfusions. His presentation concluded the 2024 Grand Rounds series on a high note, inspiring attendees to continue striving for excellence in patient care.