ART and Science:
ASCP at the Center of the Laboratory Capacity Building
in Resource-Limited Countries
Ian R Lemieux, RN, MPH, MLS(ASCP)CM
ASCP Consultant
Clinical Project Manager, Fenway Institute
• Founded in 1922
• Leader in pathology and laboratory medicine in the United
States
• Inclusive membership unites pathologists and laboratory
professionals to advance the profession
– 130,000 members include:
• Pathologists
• Doctoral-level laboratory scientists
• Laboratory professionals, including:
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
Pathologists’ assistants
Medical technologists
Cytotechnologists
Histotechnologists
Histologic technicians
Phlebotomists
Medical laboratory technicians
ASCP
• Sponsors hundreds of workshops, symposia,
teleconferences, e-courses, and self-study programs
annually
• Publishes of medical textbooks, reference manuals,
slide atlases, audiovisual materials, and computer
software, Critical Values, a quarterly newsmagazine,
and two prestigious journals, the American Journal
of Clinical Pathology and LABMEDICINE
Global Outreach
• Cooperative Agreement with the CDC since
2005
• Scope of work: build laboratory capacity and
support laboratory training and quality
improvement
– In-service
– Laboratory Accreditation
– Pre-service curriculum development
In-Service Training
• Fill an immediate
knowledge gap for
practicing lab
professionals
• Provide material
resources for ongoing education incountry
• Subject specific
trainings in
–
–
–
–
–
–
Basic laboratory operations
CD4
Clinical chemistry
Hematology
Laboratory management
Phlebotomy
ASCP Pre-Service Programs
• Provide teaching tools
serve to strengthen the
institutions of learning and
increase the knowledge and
core competencies of the
next generation of lab
professionals
• Goal is accomplished
through the following
activities
– Revise or develop new
curriculum
– Improve faculty teaching and
training skills
– Develop new course content
• ASCP Pre-Service program
by the numbers
– 11 countries
– 38 MLS programs engaged
– 28 MLS programs teaching
finalized curricula
– 2 countries graduating
students educated entirely
by new curricula
Laboratory Accreditation
• One of two laboratory
indicators for PEPFAR
• Proves quality of
laboratory results
• Strengthening
Laboratory
Management Towards
Accreditation (SLMTA)
– Strengthen laboratory
management
– Achieve immediate
laboratory improvement
– Accelerate the process
of accreditation
Thank you
Laboratory Work Force Development In
Africa:
ASLM-ASCP collaboration
ADVANCING THE LABORATORY PROFESSION AND NETWORKS IN AFRICA
ASLM MISSION
To advance professional laboratory medicine
practice, science, systems and networks in Africa
needed to support preventive medicine, quality care
of patients and disease control through partnership
with governments and relevant organizations.
ADVANCING THE LABORATORY PROFESSION & NETWORK IN AFRICA
8 Strategic objectives
Laboratory-Clinic
Interface
Laboratory Networks
& Strategies
Technical
Assistance
Laboratory Standards
and
Accreditation
ASLM
Research Capacity
and Publication
Laboratory Policy
Development
Laboratory Workforce
Development
Advocacy and
Communication
ADVANCING THE LABORATORY PROFESSION & NETWORK IN AFRICA
Human resource challenges in Africa
The shortage of
qualified staff is a
critical bottleneck to
service provision,
Absence of
career
structure
Absence of
rewarding
system
High
turnover
Shortage of
qualified
laboratory
workforce
Absence of
recognition
Job
dissatisfacti
on
ADVANCING THE LABORATORY PROFESSION AND NETWORKS IN AFRICA
Absence of
standards
Laboratory workforce development is one of the
important pillars of ASLM
•Develop the laboratory workforce in a comprehensive manner,
•Laboratory workforce standards & norms,
•Assessment of labs workforce gaps
•Database development
•Policy framework & country guidance,
•Work with ASLM collaborating centers to build partnerships with
universities to integrate internships and fellowships for continuing education
for laboratory trainees and professionals.
ADVANCING THE LABORATORY PROFESSION AND NETWORKS IN AFRICA
Laboratory standard and
accreditation
All ASLM strategic objectives contribute
to lab workforce development
Laboratory policy development
Laboratory and network and
strategy
Research capacity and
publication
Laboratory workforce
development
Career Development
Advocacy and communication
Technical assistance
Laboratory-clinic interface
ADVANCING THE LABORATORY PROFESSION AND NETWORKS IN AFRICA
ASLM co organized the first Lab work force consultation with
WHO-Afro and CDC (March 2012
. Recommendations from the meeting:
Promote the establishment of national Laboratory Professional Regulatory Councils,
which will:
-Define the code of conduct
- Minimum standards for training (pre- and in-service)
-Approving curriculum
-Accreditation of training institutes
-Licensing of lab professionals
-Define standard cadres and minimal qualifications for lab track
ASLM in collaboration with ASCP
-To conduct systematic needs assessment for lab HRH in African countries
To develop laboratory HRH development strategy including the establishment of Lab
professional levels (CLA, MLT, MLS, etc), Minimum competencies
Eligibility routes, Exams .. etc
ADVANCING THE LABORATORY PROFESSION AND NETWORKS IN AFRICA
Thank you
Career Development
www.aslm.org
ADVANCING THE LABORATORY PROFESSION AND NETWORKS IN AFRICA
ART and Science:
ASCP at the Center of the Laboratory Capacity Building
in Resource-Limited Countries
The Tanzania experience
Dr Charles G Massambu
Assistant Director, Diagnostic Services, MOHSW, Tanzania
Project Director, Laboratory Services Strengthening Program
Geographic location of Tanzania
Lab Services in Tanzania
National Health Labs (2)
Zonal Hosp Labs (8)
Regional Hosp Labs (30)
District Hosp Labs (>100)
Health Centre Labs (>500)
Dispensary Labs (>5000)
Organizational framework
Dept of Curative Services
Diagnostic Services Section
HLPC
Public sector
Lab Services
Lab Support Program
(CDC, WHO, GF, WB)
PHLB
Private sector
NHLQATC
LIS
LQS
Training
HCTS
Challenges
• In-service
– Inadequate lab personnel
– Brain Drain
– Lack of career path for lab personnel to advanced degree
– Inadequate competence in QMS, biosafety/biosecurity and
modern diagnostic technologies
– Varying level of knowledge, competences and confidences
from one lab professional to another
– Inadequate field exposure to lab QMS implementation and
biorisk management and biosurveillance
– Lack of accredited clinical laboratory
Challenges… 2
• Pre service
– Questionable quality of lab school training
– Inadequate number and capacity of lab schools
– Critical shortage of faculty
– Inadequate and non-standardized lab school curricula
– Inadequate training materials and equipment
– Inadequate infrastructure (Library, laboratory, computer
lab)
– Rapid changes in technologies and new emerging
technologies
Strategic objectives
• In-service
– Improve lab personnel competences in QMS,
biosurveillance, and biorisk management and modern
diagnostic technologies through hands-on training, teach
back, lab mentorship
– Introduce mentorship and couching programs to regional
and District hosp labs
– Improve and strengthen field exposure and practical
training
– Introduce regional and district labs to WHO Afro Stepwise
Accreditation using SLMTA/SLIPTA approach
Strategic objectives… 2
• Pre service
– Improve quality of lab school training through supportive
supervision, mentorship and sensitizing regulatory bodies
on QMS and Quality Standards
– Expand the number and capacity of lab schools
– Increase the number of qualified lab school tutors
– Review/develop and standardize lab school curricula
– Improve the number and quality of lab school training
materials and equipment
– Improve lab school infrastructure (Library, laboratory,
computer lab)
– Review/update training curricula and SOPs
Strategic objectives… 2
•
•
•
Capacity building
– Laboratory Management
– Lab School Assessment
– Lab School Curricular Development
– Lab Training Programs M&E
– SLMTA ToT Training
Material support
– Lab Equipment and Training
Materials
Technical support
– Lab School Mentorship
– SLMTA Implementation
Thank you