Joint ASCP & Tanzania Ministry of Health and Social Welfare Presentation at the HIV/AIDS Implementers’ Meeting in Uganda

Christina Mwangi, MD, Chief Laboratory Support Program for CDC-Tanzania served as the presenter of a jointly prepared abstract at the HIV/AIDS Implementers’ Meeting June 3–7, 2008, in Kampala, Uganda. In the place of Fausta Mosha, MD, MSc, Laboratory Training Coordinator with the Tanzania Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Mwangi presented a session called "Improvement in Laboratory Management Practices to Support HIV Care and Treatment," authored by Dr. Mosha, long-time ASCP volunteer Marian J. Cavagnaro, MS, MT(ASCP)DLM and ASCP Institute staff member Toria Shaw.

In August 2005, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention awarded the ASCP a cooperative agreement to support laboratory training and quality improvement initiatives for the diagnosis and laboratory monitoring of HIV/AIDS patients in resource-limited countries that fall under the auspices of the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR). One of the initiatives ASCP was involved in included a Laboratory Management Training of Trainers event held in Morogoro, Tanzania in October 2007 and subsequent rollout of training to regional laboratorians. Dr. Fausta will present on the outcomes of the training events and cover the background of Tanzania's challenged healthcare system, as well as the difficulties implementing improvements in the country.

The meeting was attended by many other organizations or ‘Implementing Partners’ that are engaged in similar work in Africa as well as other areas of the world. It was an opportunity for the various partners to gather, share and learn from one another’s experiences.

Dr. Mwangi also discussed the lessons learned by the ASCP volunteers and staff that developed and delivered the training program. Key recommendations were also presented.

"I think it is important for us to attend and share our experiences with other implementers so others can learn from what we have achieved," said Dr. Mosha, "It will also be good for us to know what others are doing. The meeting can help me improve our plans and implementation of HIV related activities, especially in training the lab personnel."

To read the full abstract of the session, click here.