North-South cooperation on transfusion and hematology teaching: A Benin experience

• Published in: Transfusion clinique et biologique : journal de la Societe francaise de transfusion sanguine Vol. 22; no. 2; p. 80
• Main Authors: Lafia, E, Anani, L, Glitho, S, Bankole, C, Fachinan, H, Py, J-Y, Domenech, J, Martenot, B, Colombat, P, Chobli, M, Zohoun, I
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: French
• Published: France 01-06-2015
• Subjects: Benin; Blood Transfusion; France; Health Services Accessibility; Hematology - education; Humans; International Cooperation; Medically Underserved Area; Physicians; France; Benin; Hematology-transfusion network; Réseau hématologie-transfusion; Labor shortage; North-South cooperation; Coopération Nord-Sud; Pénurie de personnel
• ISSN: 1953-8022
• DOI: 10.1016/j.tracli.2015.04.003

Hematologic diseases are a significant part of health disorders in Benin. As an example, anemia is the second cause of hospitalization, measuring up to 7.9% all over the country (National Plan of Sanitary Development, 2009-2018). By contrast, there is only one active hematologist in the country. Thanks to two partnerships, on one hand between the health sciences faculty in Cotonou (Benin) and the medicine one in Tours (France), and on the other hand between the Beninese Blood Transfusion National Agency and the French Blood Establishment, a first blood transfusion and hematology formation was held in Cotonou on December 2014. Among other benefits, was created an hematology-transfusion network in order to facilitate relations between Beninese hospital doctors, with the support of the two French partner institutions. The article describes this progress.