Laboratory Capacity Building in Africa

Tsehaynesh Messele, PhDCEO, ASLM

Low priority and recognition in most national health delivery systems

Poor infrastructure, inadequate equipment and supplies, absence /weak quality assurance, shortage of trained personnel

Delayed or in appropriate response to epidemics, disease control and patient management

In general laboratory dependent programs are challenged

Challenges of Labs in Africa

Critical problems?

WeakNational

laboratory system

workforcePoor laboratory service

Poor Quality

Assurance

Poor communication

Bad working Environment

Limited External Quality Assessment (EQA)

Lack of National laboratory policy

Lack Accreditation for laboratory system

Poor communication channel

Lack of networking

Poor attention to Lab system

lack of incentive package

attrition

Lack of training

in adequateLab Facility

Poor referral linkage

Inefficient service delivery system

Shortage of laboratory supplies

Lack of integration &uniformity

Lack of accountability and responsibility

The Ethiopian experience…../

• EHNRI in collaboration with all stakeholders developed the first five year national laboratory master plan in December 2005 .

• Strategic objectives to address the major gaps in laboratories at different levels.

• The plan was revised in 2009 to encompass 17 comprehensive strategies aimed at developing a sustainable system that delivers quality and accessible laboratory services for integrated diseases

Objectives of the Master Plan

• Describe principles and procedures through which the National Laboratory System will develop capacity to meet the needs of the nation

• Describe specific strategies and plans for the development and implementation of laboratory services nationwide

• Serve as national operational guidelines for: public health and clinical laboratories health programs which rely on the national laboratory

system for support donor organizations looking to fill resource gaps

Strategic objective 7:

Strategies

• Build EHNRI’s technical capacity for training

• Identify, prioritize and standardize in-service trainings

• Support regional in-service trainings

• Collaborate in strengthening pre-service

training programs

• Strengthen M&E for training programs

• ASCP supported implementation of the training

strategies

To expand and strengthen standardized training programs for laboratory personnel

• TOT on Chemistry, Hematology and CD4 was given to >500 lab professionals with support from ASCP

• The TOTs have been conducted in order to support the regional roll-out of training programs– Regional training teams were formed– Regional roll-out done

• Was critical for successful expansion of the HIV care and treatment program

• Technical assistance to support the development of SOPs

• Training of two senior professionals abroad on quality laboratory improvement

Training and Other supports

54321 6

Hematology

CD4

Com

mon

Module

s

CD4

Chemistry

4321

ChemistryCom

mon

Module

s Hematology

Path 2

• Trainings rolled-out in a cycle of 2 rounds• Trainees attended both trainings in order to complete all tracks.

– The students only needed to attend the Common Modules once• In one training cycle, Chemistry and Hematology trainers will commit 7 days to teaching

– 1 day to teach the Common Modules– 3 days to teach their module in the first round– 3 days to teach their module in the second round

• In one training cycle, CD4 trainers will commit 4 days of teaching– 4 days to teach their module twice

Regional Roll-Out Format

Path 1

Days

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