GLOBAL HEALTH
In Zimbabwe, Lab Mentor Fosters
Advancing Systems
By Jade Campbell, intern, Communications
Michael Makaya, APHL’s
senior laboratory mentor in
Zimbabwe, is applying 20
years in medical laboratory
science to improve
laboratory systems in his
country. With 15 years’
experience in public health
laboratories, including 10 as
a quality manager, plus expertise in HIV/AIDS,
he is well qualified for the job. He is a graduate
of the Strengthening Laboratory Management
Toward Accreditation (SLMTA) program 1 and
2, and recently completed his degree in Public
Administration & Management. What are the strengths and
weaknesses of your lab?
What are the day-to-day tasks of a
lab mentor? To see a lab produce a quality result. We
want to see people living with HIV get
quality viral load results, which is one of
the HIV 90-90-90 objectives.
A lab mentor collaborates with laboratory
workers to improve management of
laboratory systems. I act as a facilitator,
working with laboratory workers from
the lowest to the highest level. Together
we develop laboratory management
systems to ensure that proper processes
and policies are followed and working.
I am currently working with 11 labs,
auditing them to see their progress,
teaching training sessions, and helping
them to request laboratory supplies and
equipment. Other tasks include regional
communication and data reporting,
laboratory logistics and coordinating
transportation of specimens.
What were your expectations for
the position?
When I got involved as a mentor, most
labs lacked quality management, so I
saw an opportunity to improve the entire
system by talking with lab workers on all
levels to identify ways to improve.
One of our strengths is staff commitment
to getting the job done efficiently and
correctly. Our head lab manager, the
driving force pushing us to improve,
supports this commitment. Understaffing
is a major weakness across our labs. Many
are unable to staff effectively because
eight hours isn’t enough time to finish the
job. However, with APHL’s assistance, shift
work is being implemented.
What is your favorite part of
your job?
What attracted you to
public health?
In Zimbabwe, HIV has affected many
residents and the community as a whole.
It’s amazing to see the lab’s impact in the
region and its ability to get care to those
in need. There is still a long way to go but
things are getting better.
What makes this work meaningful
to you?
Every two years the African Society of
Laboratory Medicine (ASLM) audits our
labs, and this past year two of our labs
received 3 stars. I’ve seen improvements
in our labs but there are still many
challenges. Our testing volume has
increased substantially over the last four
years from 5% to 61%, and the target
for anti-viral load testing under HIV
90-90-90 is, as the name suggests, an
ambitious 90%. With the help of APHL,
CDC and PEPFAR, we were able to surpass
Zimbabwe’s goal of 50%. n
APHL Publishes New Guide
to LIS International
Implementations
by Reshma Kakkar, manager, Global
Health Informatics and Rachelle Jones,
senior specialist, Global Health Informatics
Since 2003, APHL
has played a key role
in the scale-up of
laboratory information
systems (LIS) in
countries funded
by the President’s
Emergency Plan for
AIDS Relief (PEPFAR).
Strategies developed
under this program are now being adopted
by international initiatives such as the Global
Health Security Agenda (GHSA).
APHL’s LIS work has generated appreciation for
a well-planned and implemented LIS and its
impact on patient and public health. Through
timely delivery of laboratory results, monitoring
the quality of testing systems and generation
of real-time disease surveillance test results,
LIS has significantly increased the capability
and capacity of diagnostic and public health
laboratories.
Versatile Resource
To share successes, lessons learned and
best practices from the last 15 years, APHL
is pleased to present “Laboratory Information
Systems Project Management: A Guide
for International Implementations.” The
publication, an update to APHL’s “Guidebook
for Implementation of Laboratory Information
Systems in Resource-Poor Settings,” marks the
culmination of the association’s LIS experience
over almost two decades.
Developed with input from APHL’s Informatics
Committee members, international consultants
and APHL Global Health field staff in Kenya,
Tanzania and Mozambique, the new Guide
helps laboratories to initiate and implement
an LIS at any level—from a nationwide rollout
to an individual laboratory application. It also
offers guidance for laboratories choosing
between rapid deployment of LIS tools and a
gradual, iterative approach. This scenario occurs
frequently in countries with swiftly developing
technological capability. n
For more information, contact
Reshma Kakkar or Rachelle Jones.
PublicHealthLabs
@APHL
APHL.org
Winter 2019 LAB MATTERS
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