Pretoria - Health Minister Dr Aaron Motsoaledi is today expected to open the country's Transfusion Medicine Training Centre aimed at improving blood collection and storage.
The Health Ministry said the collection as well as safe storage of blood formed an essential part of the nation's healthcare services.
"This becomes even more important as the country gears itself for hosting the FIFA 2010 World Cup," the Ministry said.
The centre's function, among others, will be to train medical technologists in the field of transfusion medicine for safe blood supply as well as to train blood banking and transfusion medicine practitioners in the regulatory framework.
Other functions will include risk management, standard operating procedures aspects of transfusion medicine to ensure safety of blood and blood supply.
The centre, which is based in Constantia Kloof, Johannesburg, is funded through the United States President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR).
