The high cost of Blood Transfusion system in developed countries, which are beyond the health budget of poor countries, has led to the need for simplification of auto transfusion devices in the field of Transfusion Medicine.

This need especially in developing countries, has been heightened by the fear of such blood related disease as HIV – AIDS, Syphilis, Hepatitis and many others through homologous blood transfusion. There is also an additional challenge to prevent the equipment dumping syndrome of medical devices through the evolution of a culture of appropriate technologies relevant to the needs of developing countries.

A Pilot study on an Emergency Auto transfusion set (EATSET) was sponsored through UNDP / WHO and FGN sponsorship in 1990 which led to the creation of a simple medical device for Auto Transfusion in Nigeria and other Developing Countries. This device, tested and accepted by the World Health Organization (WHO) has been used successfully in clinical trials in Switzerland and Nigeria emergency situations.

In order to enhance the performance of the internationally acclaimed EATSET, Dr. Ovadje has proposed the MOSS concept so that the already established EATSET can also be used during elective surgical operations In this research proposal, this concept is to be studied in a clinical setting to evaluate the status of blood processed through the MOSS application.

This research will exploit the possibility of local production of the EATSET and other medical devices through a South – South Technology collaboration presently between India and Nigeria. Nigeria has the resources – raw material and personnel. The study is therefore an attempt to test the local potential for medical manufacturing of basic tools in order to stimulate creation of appropriate systems for medical practice in Nigeria and the developing world.

The development of industries for medical manufacturing will also stimulate economic activities that will lead to job creation in one of the world’s troubled spot the Niger / Delta, which today boasts of two large petrochemical industries that produce polymer granules are the raw materials tools required in the manufacture of most scientific and medical tools. Many science and medical tools are plastic, rubber and glass based. These elements are found abundantly in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria.

The EATSET applied research project seeks to explore the potential for local manufacturing of scientific and medical tools through a pilot plant scheme exploiting these resources.

The EATSET research study has successfully produced the Emergency Auto Transfusion device that has gained the accolade of ‘Nigeria’s contribution to Global Blood Safety’. Sponsorship of the initial studies was largely from the UNDP with support from the World Health Organization and the Federal Government of Nigeria.

Three research works have been carried out prior to this proposal:

i. The laboratory studies which took place at the University of Lagos and Benin
   Teaching Hospitals.

ii. The Alpha Clinical Studies which was successfully completed in 1996 at the
    Department of Experimental Studies of the University of Geneva Cantonal
    Hospital, Geneva, Switzerland.

iii. The Beta Clinical trials in its conclusive phase and the subject of
    doctoral/fellowship studies at the Department of Haematology of the Lagos
    University Teaching Hospital.

The two studies now proposed for sponsorship to conclude the
EATSET project are as follows:

The EATSET – Moss Research Study and

The EATSET Industrial Study