Blood saves lives. In United Nations missions worldwide, the need for safe, timely blood transfusions is a constant reality—whether for peacekeepers injured in the line of duty or staff facing medical emergencies. Yet, ensuring a steady supply of blood in remote or high-risk areas has long been a challenge. The short shelf life of blood requires resupply every few weeks, which increases supply chain challenges.
To address this critical gap, DOS’ Office of Supply Chain Management (OSCM) has launched the Walking Blood Bank Kit—a groundbreaking project designed for the rapid establishment of blood bank operations and to ensure safe access to blood, when needed, in all UN missions. The concept is simple but powerful: when used correctly, the kit enables missions to establish an on-site capacity for the safe, controlled collection of blood donated from their own uniformed and civilian personnel. This approach reduces dependence on external suppliers while maintaining compliance with haemovigilance and quality standards. When blood is needed, pre-screened donors can be mobilized rapidly, ensuring timely and safe availability of blood where it is needed.
While the concept sounds straightforward, its successful implementation requires strict adherence to international haemovigilance standards. Every stage of the process—collection, testing, storage, transport, transfusion, and disposal—must be executed under controlled conditions and in accordance with established UN protocols to guarantee safety for both donors and recipients. To make this possible, OSCM is introducing a standardized Walking Blood Bank Kit, equipped with all essential components, as well as a comprehensive training programme that builds staff capacity in its proper use, quality control, and emergency response. Together, these measures ensure that every mission can maintain a safe, self-sufficient, and compliant blood supply system.
The Walking Blood Bank Kitis a fully equipped, field-ready system: from sterile consumables such as needles, blood collection bags, and rapid testing cards to validated storage containers and temperature-controlled transport devices that preserve the integrity of blood units throughout the process. An instructional video will also be made available online to guide medical personnel through each step of the kit’s proper use—from setup and collection to storage and transport. The video is designed to ensure the consistent application of procedures and compliance with safety standards across all missions. To streamline access, OSCM has integrated the kit’s components into UN global medical supply contracts, enabling missions to source them directly through established procurement channels.
Equally important is building practical capacity for effective kit use. OSCM will deliver hands-on training through a “train-the-trainers” approach, ensuring that medical staff are fully competent in deploying the Walking Blood Bank Kit and can transfer this expertise to incoming personnel—a critical need in missions where staff rotations are frequent. In addition, a new practical online training will complement the existing theory-based hemotherapy course, addressing critical questions such as: How should each kit component be prepared and handled? What are the proper steps for safe collection, testing, and storage using the kit? How should the kit’s materials remain sterile and maintained during operations?
These measures help to ensure personnel are fully confident in the safe and correct use of the kit in all mission settings.
The initiative builds on a strong culture of volunteerism within UN missions, where peacekeepers and staff regularly participate in blood donation drives. The Walking Blood Bank Kit takes this commitment a step further, creating a structured, standardized system that guarantees safety and continuity.
By empowering missions to manage their own blood supply, the Walking Blood Bank Kit will save lives, reduce waste, and strengthen resilience in some of the world’s most challenging environments. It is more than a logistical solution—it is a lifeline.
The Walking Blood Bank Kit is made possible through the support of the UN Peace and Development Trust Fund, funded by China, whose commitment ensures missions have the resources needed to establish safe and reliable blood collection systems.