THIS IS AN ONGOING ACTIVITY. THE NARRATIVE IS UNCHANGED EXCEPT FOR UPDATED

EMPHASIS ON:

+Lab information management [LIMS] centrally and regionally

+High level lab management training for leaderships in quality, training and program coordination.

1. LIST OF RELATED ACTIVITIES:

This activity relates to activities in Counseling and Testing (#7009), TB/HIV (#6944) and Care and

Treatment.

2. ACTIVITY DESCRIPTION:

The Association of Public Health Laboratories (APHL) is a non-profit organization with a history of over 50

years of working with government health departments to assure quality and consistency of laboratory

methodologies, techniques, safety, and data management. APHL has developed and established

international mechanisms to coordinate the assessment and improvement of multiple parameters in public

health laboratory practice. During FYs 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2007, APHL assisted the Kenyan Ministry of

Health with the development and implementation of a national laboratory strategic plan, provided training in

laboratory management, and assisted in initial efforts to develop a laboratory information system [LIMS] for

the NPHLS.

The Laboratory Assessment Report and recommendations made by CDC and APHL in collaboration with

the Kenya NPHL in 2005 together with the Laboratory Policy Guidelines, which are printed, formed the

basis for the development of the National Public Health Laboratory Strategic Plan (2005-2010). This Plan is

in line with the Ministry of Health Strategic Plan and that of the National Aids Control Program (NASCOP)

and also the National AIDS Control Council (NACC). During FY 2008, APHL will build on the first four years

of support with primary focus on continuing to implement the national laboratory strategic plan with

emphasis on:

1.Expansion of the LIMS capacity and capabilities from the Central Level to the Provincial levels.

2.Intensified training of the Central Managers for Quality Systems, Training programs, Coordinators of

programs and Support Supervisors at the Provincial levels. This is anticipated to involve training in the USA

and also in country.

3.Facilitating Senior Kenyan Laboratorians to interact with Public Lab Specialists in the USA through

attendance of conferences and specific targeted learning visits.

4.Maintenance of the Internet connectivity and Website of the NPHL domain and initiation of Provincial Lab

communication with the Central Lab.

3. CONTRIBUTIONS TO OVERALL PROGRAM AREA:

Implementing the strategic plan will help strengthen the NPHLS laboratory functions throughout Kenya. This

will make the NPHLS better able to offer quality services and support to the programmatic expansion of HIV

prevention, surveillance, care and treatment programs, particularly in the public health sector.

4. LINKS TO OTHER ACTIVITIES:

This activity relates intimately to Kenya National Public Health Laboratory Services: Laboratory

Infrastructure activity (#7003).

5. POPULATIONS BEING TARGETED: APHL activities primarily target laboratory workers.

6. KEY LEGISLATIVE ISSUES:

None

7. EMPHASIS AREAS:

This activity includes major emphasis in the area of training and strengthening of management systems

including data management and communication.

There is minor emphasis in the areas of laboratory infrastructure procurement of specialized equipment and

reagents; development of laboratory policies, guidelines, and protocols for quality assurance schemes; and

development and strengthening of networks/linkages and referral systems for external quality assurance

schemes.