Haematology and Blood Transfusion/Immunology

DR. LINDA ANUCHA DUBLIN-GREEN (MB:BS., Ass Fellow NPMCN)

The Current Head of Department

Haematology and Blood Transfusion/Immunology

The Department of Haematology, Blood Transfusion and Immunology is one of the core departments in the College of Medical Sciences of Rivers State University. It is establishment in line with the strategic vision of the institution to train highly skilled professionals capable of addressing both local and global health challenges.

The Department is made up of academic, service and administrative units with the aim of delivering quality education to medical students who    are expected to acquire both theoretical knowledge and practical skills in the field of Haematology, Blood Transfusion and Immunology.

The training emphasizes a strong foundation in basic knowledge about evidence-based management of haematological and immunological conditions as well as promote the principles of safe blood transfusion practices.

The department also supports Residency training in collaboration with the Rivers State University Teaching Hospital. As an academic and clinical department, we are committed to excellence in medical education, patient care, and biomedical research

The course is offered to first year clinical students (400 level) of the MBBS (Bachelor of medicine/surgery) program.  The aim of the department is to demonstrate and impart to students and clinicians the ability to recognize disease based on both gross and microscopic changes that occur with disease states and an understanding of autopsy pathology.

Staff list in the Department

NameRankArea Of SpecializationEmail

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

The duties and responsibilities of the department include the following :

Teaching

  • Deliver lectures, practicals, tutorials, and clinical demonstrations in Haematology, Blood Transfusion and Immunology for medical  students.
  • Supervise laboratory sessions for student with  exposure to diagnostic and transfusion services.
  • Mentor and assess students through continuous assessments (introductory posting, mid– block posting and   end of the block posting) including  professional examinations.
  • Training of resident doctors in Haematology in collaboration with the Rivers State University Teaching Hospital.

Research

  • Promote high-quality, relevant, and ethical research on  haematological and immunological issues .
  • *Stimulate quality research among academic staff, that is publishable in high impact journals (national and international).
  • Support for  inter -departmental faculty and external  research collaborations.

Clinical and Laboratory Services

  • Provide diagnostic services in haematology and immunology for the affiliated Rivers State University- Teaching Hospitals.
  • Deliver safe and effective blood transfusion services in line with national and international guidelines.
  • Maintain and ensure the quality control of laboratory equipment and reagents.

Administration

  • Conduct regular departmental meetings in line with the university’s quality assurance framework.
  • Ensure participation in Faculty, College and Senate meetings.

Maintain accurate records and communication through the University’s digital platforms.

STRUCTURE OF THE UNIT

Academic Staff

  • Head of Department
  • Professors
  • Readers
  • Senior Lecturers
  • Lecturer I
  • Lecturer II

Clinical/Laboratory Staff

  • Consultant Haematologists
  • Medical Laboratory Scientists
  • Transfusion Services Officer
  • Technical Officers

Administrative Staff

  • Administrative Officer I
  • Administrative Officer II

Clerical Staff

PHILOSOPHY OF THE PROGRAMMES

The Department of Haematology, Blood Transfusion and Immunology is guided by the philosophy of a structured  programme that is dedicated  to equip  medical students with the theoretical and practical  skills relevant to clinical medicine..

The curriculum covers three core areas:

  • Haematology: Focuses on blood cell development, anaemias, haematological malignancies, haemostasis, and coagulation disorders.
  • Blood Transfusion Medicine: Covers immunohematology, blood grouping, compatibility testing, transfusion safety, transfusion reactions, neonatal haemolytic disease, and transfusion-transmitted infections.

Immunology: Explores immunity, hypersensitivity, autoimmunity, immunodeficiencies, and immune responses in infections and cancer, including diagnostics, immunotherapy, and vaccine development

OBJECTIVE

Each student should be able to:

  1. Collect, record and process blood specimens of patients, specifically to be able to determine haematocrit, haemoglobin concentration, white cell and platelet counts.
  2. Make blood film, stain with Romanowsky and examine it under microscope.
  3. Recognize the morphology of normal red cells, white cells, and platelets;
  4. Recognise quantitative and qualitative abnormalities in red cells, white cells, and platelets.
  5. Determine the ABO and Rh blood groups; Identify anti-A, anti-B and anti – A + B antibodies in sera
  6. Carry out simple tests of blood clotting: – Thrombin time, Prothrombin time, Fibrinogen estimation and partial Thromboplastin time

At the end of the program the students are expected demonstrate not only, clinical and practical competence but also critical thinking, empathy and professional integrity