Detailed Mechanism Funding and Narrative

Years of mechanism: 2011 2012 2013

Details for Mechanism ID: 13344
Country/Region: Ghana
Year: 2013
Main Partner: Ghana Health Service
Main Partner Program: NA
Organizational Type: Host Country Government Agency
Funding Agency: HHS/CDC
Total Funding: $100,000

Partnership Framework (PF) between the US Government (USG) and the Government of Ghana (GoG) is focused on reducing the number of new infections and increasing ART coverage. Both these goals depend on the performance of laboratories in providing information to patients that is accurate, timely, cost effective, appropriate, and interpretable and strengthens quality of patient care. Accreditation of laboratories encompasses quality measurement for six laboratory systems that include quality management, training, equipment maintenance, supply chain management, laboratory information, specimen referral and advocates strongly for laboratory policy.

CDC Ghana will work with AFENET in FY 2012 to provide assistance for laboratory training and maintenance of equipment, both essential to qulaity performance of laboratories in Ghana.

Funding for Laboratory Infrastructure (HLAB): $100,000

Preventive and curative maintenance of equipment constitute a key component of the national laboratory strategic plan and play a critical role in ensuring quality laboratory testing and uninterrupted service delivery in management of HIV-AIDS, TB , Malaria and other diseases. In Ghana, the Global Fund (GFATM) has traditionally provided equipment for screening, confirming, and monitoring patients on treatment for HIV, TB and Malaria. However, there are gaps/concerns with proper maintenance of equipment given machine downtime during breakdowns.

The training of biomedical engineers for preventive and curative maintenance of equipment at the national reference as well as zonal and regional laboratories in Ghana is a priority for CDC. Engineers will be trained to identify equipment problems as well as perform calibration of common laboratory equipment such as thermometers, timers, and pipettes.

AFNET will establish proper mechanisms for the reporting of damaged equipment to regional and reference laboratories, ensuring proper documentation procedures are followed. They will ensure equipment maintenance contracts are in place with manufacturers or their local representatives with periodic evaluation of the services they provide.

AFNET will work with vendors to facilitate training for laboratory technicians to develop routine preventive equipment maintenance plans at the laboratories engaged in the accreditation process. They will also facilitate trainings between vendors and biomedical engineers to repair broken equipment.

AFNET will further enhance the capacity of local institutes that engage in training of biomedical engineers for equipment maintenance and repair by providing tool kits for equipment repair and creating opportunities for additional trainings. They will check the feasibility of expanding the service contracts for equipment maintenance to additional laboratories involving local biomedical engineering institutes.

Cross Cutting Budget Categories and Known Amounts Total: $100,000
Human Resources for Health $100,000