Unit 6:
Training and Supervision
#3-6-1
Warm Up Questions: Instructions

Take five minutes now to try the Unit 6 warm
up questions in your manual.

Please do not compare answers with other
participants.

Your answers will not be collected or graded.

We will review your answers at the end of the
unit.
#3-6-2
What You Will Learn

By the end of this unit you should be able to:

describe requirements for staffing, training,
and supervising of HIV sentinel
surveillance programmes

identify potential sources of conflict when
adding supervisory staff to existing
programmes
#3-6-3
Sentinel Surveillance Staffing

People needed to conduct a sero-survey
include:






clinic staff
laboratory technicians
supervisory staff
data managers or statisticians
survey co-ordinators
Responsibilities for each surveillance staff
member should be clearly defined in the serosurvey protocol.
#3-6-4
Table 6.1. Responsibilities of SeroSurvey Personnel at Local (clinic)
Level

ensure that eligible women are included in
the sero-survey

draw blood specimens

split specimens for standard syphilis testing
and for HIV testing
#3-6-5
Table 6.1. Responsibilities of SeroSurvey Personnel at Local (clinic)
Level, Cont.

label and properly store specimens in
preparation for transport to the testing
laboratory

fill in data collection forms

transmit data collection forms to regional level

train for other staff members’ duties in the
case of absence
#3-6-6
Table 6.1. Responsibilities for
Local Supervisory Staff

ensure efficient operation of sero-survey

supervise other surveillance staff

provide adequate oversight, ensure
confidentiality
#3-6-7
Table 6.1. Responsibilities for a
Local Courier (As Needed)

In some cases, someone from the Ministry of
Health will be available to transport
specimens to the testing laboratory.

If not, the clinic laboratory technician may be
required to do so, especially if specimens will
be tested in the same town or city.
#3-6-8
Table 6.2. Responsibilities for
Regional Laboratory Technicians

order equipment, supplies, and test kits

conduct HIV testing

report results to data entry clerk

participate in quality control and quality
assurance programmes
#3-6-9
Table 6.2. Responsibilities for
Regional Data Entry Clerks

examine data for missing values and try to
resolve these by communicating with clinic

combine data from data collection forms and
laboratory results into single data set
#3-6-10
Table 6.2. Responsibilities for
Regional Study Coordinator

ensure provision of equipment, supplies, and
test kits

ensure adequate oversight and confidentiality
at the regional level

provide training for local level and regional
staff

disseminate survey findings
#3-6-11
Table 6.3. Responsibilities for
National Level Lab Technician

ensure provision of equipment, supplies, and
test kits to regional laboratories

conduct HIV tests as needed; for example, for
difficult or borderline specimens

oversee quality assurance of testing
procedures at regional and local levels
#3-6-12
Table 6.3. Responsibilities for
National Level Data
Manager/Statistician

enter data in the program’s computerised
database if this is not done at the regional
level

examine data for missing values

manage data

analyse data
#3-6-13
Table 6.3. Responsibilities for
National Level Surveillance
Coordinator






develop sero-survey manual or protocol with
help from program staff
ensure adequate funding
provide adequate oversight and training at
the regional and national levels
ensure confidentiality
interpret findings in conjunction with regionallevel survey coordinators
prepare survey reports and national reports
#3-6-14
Writing a Survey Protocol

The manual should describe all the steps and
tasks involved in a sero-survey.

The manual should be detailed enough that it
can be read and used at the local, regional
and national levels

It can also serve as a guide to training needs,
and be used for training survey personnel.
#3-6-15
Training According to the Survey
Protocol

The survey manual should be explicit about
training needs.

It should specify what types of personnel will need
to be trained.

It should specify where training will occur.

It should specify who will be responsible for doing
the training.
#3-6-16
Identifying Training Needs

Develop comprehensive job descriptions:
 skills required to perform each task
 risks associated with improper performance
of tasks

The survey coordinator should compare the job
descriptions with the staff to identify the gaps in
knowledge.
#3-6-17
Conducting Training

All personnel involved in a sero-survey must
be trained, including supervisors, laboratory
staff and clinic staff.

Training sessions may be conducted either at
the clinic site, or in a central location at the
regional or national level.
#3-6-18
Conducting Training, Cont.

The following should be included in all
trainings:



review of the survey manual, operational
procedures and field protocol
results from previous sero-surveys conducted at
the site or in the region
an opportunity for participants to discuss concerns
and ask for clarification of sero-survey operations
#3-6-19
Maintaining Motivation




Develop a sense of sero-survey ‘ownership.’
Define clear responsibilities and roles for staff
at all levels.
Emphasise the importance of each person’s
contribution to the sero-survey’s success.
Provide adequate staff training.
#3-6-20
Maintaining Motivation, Cont.

Ensure that the needed equipment and forms
are available before the survey starts.

Assign data management and analysis
responsibilities to regional coordinators.
#3-6-21
Supervisor Responsibilities

The supervisor should monitor all aspects of
sentinel surveillance, including:

sampling

data and specimen collection and
management

laboratory equipment
#3-6-22
Supervision

The levels of supervision should be kept to a
minimum.

Make use of existing management structure
at facility level. This will:



minimise conflicts with the facility administrators
offer more ownership in the process
encourage effective management of the
surveillance activities
#3-6-23
Warm Up Review

Take a few minutes now to look back at your
answers to the warm up questions at the
beginning of the unit.

Make any changes you want to.

We will discuss the questions and answers in
a few minutes.
#3-6-24
Answers to Warm Up Questions
1. Which staff members should be trained prior
to conducting sero-surveys?
a.
b.
c.
d.
supervisors and managerial staff
laboratory staff
clinic staff
all of the above
#3-6-25
Answers to Warm Up Questions,
Cont.
2. True or false? When planning for the
supervision of testing facilities, the national
surveillance organisers should hire an
outside supervisor to staff each of the
facilities where HIV testing occurs. False
#3-6-26
Answers to Warm Up Questions,
Cont.
3. List three types of personnel necessary to
conduct an HIV sero-survey. Clinic staff,
laboratory technicians, supervisory staff,
etc.
#3-6-27
Answers to Warm Up Questions,
Cont.
4. The national surveillance supervisor should
be responsible for supervision of:
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
specimen collection
data management
laboratory equipment
sampling
all of the above
#3-6-28
Small Group Discussion:
Instructions

Get into small groups to discuss these
questions.

Choose a speaker for your group who will
report back to the class.

Take 15 minutes for this exercise.
#3-6-29
Small Group Reports

Select one member from your group to
present your answers.

Discuss with the rest of the class.
#3-6-30
Case Study: Instructions

Try this case study individually

We’ll discuss the answers in class
#3-6-31
Case Study Review

Follow along as we go over the case study in
class.

Discuss your answers with the rest of the
class.
#3-6-32
Questions, Process Check

Do you have any questions on the information
we just covered?

Are you happy with how we worked on Unit 6?

Do you want to try something different that will
help the group?
#3-6-33