Funding extends Chicago-based association’s laboratory training and support programs in government-sponsored AIDS initiative

CHICAGO – Aug. 27, 2009 – The American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP) Institute for Global Outreach has been awarded $5.5 million from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to continue the Society’s collaborative work with the agency in the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) during 2009-10.

This is an increase of more than $1 million over last year and is the highest amount received by ASCP Global Outreach for its role in laboratory training and education in resource-limited African and Caribbean nations. Chicago-based ASCP was initially selected in 2005 by the CDC as a partner to help PEPFAR execute its goal of treating 2.5 million AIDS/HIV patients, prevent 12 million new cases, and care for more than 12 million people, including children orphaned by the disease. Congress reauthorized the PEPFAR program for another five years in 2008 and CDC continued its partnership with ASCP Global Outreach.

ASCP Global Outreach specializes in laboratory trainings and technical assistance in topic-specific areas, including basic laboratory operations, CD4 testing, clinical chemistry, hematology, laboratory management and phlebotomy; as well as pre-Service curriculum development and implementation at the certificate and diploma levels. ASCP volunteers provide diagnostic and quality assurance laboratory training along with technical assistance in the review and revision of clinical laboratory curricula. ASCP volunteers help build laboratory infrastructure through in-service training and review and revision of clinical laboratory curricula.

Last month, ASCP Global Outreach volunteers traveled to Kigali, Rwanda, to participate in an African laboratory accreditation program launch. They met with several African government health officials and representatives from the World Health Organization, the Clinton Foundation’s HIV/AIDS Initiative and the CDC to discuss the details of the program. The purpose of this five-step accreditation process is to strengthen the health systems and improve patient care on the continent. Former President Bill Clinton recognized both the CDC and ASCP for its role in improving laboratories. In his speech he stated: “Lab systems should never be a bottleneck to the delivery of high-quality patient care. We need to implement internationally recognized quality standards. Our common humanity requires common standards.”

ASCP members are in Tanzania (Aug. 17 – 28) conducting a workshop about certificate level teaching methodologies. The new award will enable ASCP to continue to work with the CDC to develop laboratory strengthening programs like this.

“The increase in funding to ASCP Global Outreach comes from the significant value that CDC sees in continuing our partnership with this group,” said John Nkengasong, chief of the CDC International Branch. “As demonstrated most recently in Kigali, ASCP volunteers are totally committed to the improvement and sustainability of laboratories and, most importantly, they are dedicated to improving patient care through their work. We look forward to an exciting year working with them.”

Nkengasong also cites the success of ASCP’s programs in 14 PEPFAR countries and its large, supportive 130,000-member base.

During the last year, ASCP volunteers participated in completing curriculum for diploma and certificate programs in Tanzania and diploma level in Kenya. There were also several workshops completed in French in Haiti and Cote d’ Ivoire.

With the funding, ASCP Global Outreach will continue Pre-service training –working with universities and teachers to build accreditation programming. Mentorship programs and workshops in clinical chemistry, hematology, phlebotomy and basic laboratory operations will also continue.

“We are a large, diverse organization that is using the incredible knowledge, experience and dedication of our volunteers and staff to respond to the global health needs using those skills that we use daily to serve our clients and patients,” said ASCP Past President Lee H. Hilborne, MD, MPH, FASCP, DLM(ASCP)^CM. “There is still much work to do to improve patient services in resource-limited nations, but together ASCP Institute for Global Outreach and the CDC have made considerable of progress. Over the next year we will continue to fight HIV/AIDS and work to slow its devastating effects.”

ASCP Global Outreach is committed to forming collaborative partnerships to enhance laboratory practices around the world.

For more information on ASCP Global Outreach, see www.ascp.org/outreach  

PEPFAR – www.pepfar.org

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Founded in 1922, ASCP is a professional society with 130,000 member pathologists and laboratory professionals. Based in Chicago, the ASCP provides excellence in education, certification, and advocacy on behalf of patients, pathologists, and laboratory professionals. Visit ASCP’s Web site at www.ascp.org.