Detailed Mechanism Funding and Narrative

Years of mechanism: 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015

Details for Mechanism ID: 9039
Country/Region: Kenya
Year: 2012
Main Partner: American Society for Microbiology
Main Partner Program: NA
Organizational Type: Private Contractor
Funding Agency: HHS/CDC
Total Funding: $350,000

Goals and objectives:The following are the objectives of this mechanism:Objective 1. Strengthen Capacity and Leadership of the Central Microbiology Reference LaboratoryThis will involve continued training of CMRL staff in support of WHO/AFRO accreditation efforts. Key activities include onsite training in new reference or specialized diagnostic microbiology procedures; mentoring in quality management systems to ensure quality, efficient operation and workflow. CMRL policies will be strengthened to support leadership in IDSR activities.Objective 2. Strengthen Microbiology Services for the Laboratory Network. A key activity will be to establish a local microbiology mentoring program to oversee county labs. This will build capacity for diagnosis of opportunistic infections in HIV infected persons.Objective 3 Strengthen microbiology training capacity of medical training colleges and a key activity will be training college faculty mentors in microbiology.Coverage:This activity with national coverage will be carried out at two reference laboratories, in six provincial and four county/district level laboratories as well as at up to ten KMTC training colleges.Transition to country partners:All ASM activities will be entrenched in MOH facilities and reference laboratories. Partnerships with local training institutions, universities and colleges, and professional associations will be developed to facilitate long term sustainability of all initiatives.No vehicles will be procured in this activity. This activity supports GHI/LLC.

Funding for Laboratory Infrastructure (HLAB): $350,000

The ASM is a US based NGO. ASM assisted the Kenyan MOH in strengthening microbiology capacity at central level and in selected districts through development of SOPS, on site mentoring, assistance with preparation of supply lists, advice on configuring LIMS for microbiology and lab design for efficient microbiology flow. Weak lab microbiology capacity is a major challenge in the integrated disease control and surveillance program. Development of microbiology capacity will benefit not just HIV/AIDS programs but other disease surveillance programs especially IDSR. The goal is to increase the capacity of labs to perform quality microbiology testing for HIV/AIDS-related OIs and other infectious disease and build capacity at MTCs. In FY 12 ASM will work with the NPHL to improve their microbiology testing capacity at all levels in the network. ASM will collaborate and work closely with other programs IDSR, NTP and work synergistically to strengthen microbiology capacity; support the CMRL, TB culture labs; expand the diagnostic testing at provincial level to implement assays for diagnosis of cryptococcal meningitis and other OIs. ASM will partner with established centers of excellence in Kenya and draw on a pool of microbiologists to build capacity in the public sector.Coverage includes the MTCs, central microbiology reference laboratory, and provincial and county levels laboratories. This supports Kenya's GHI Strategy Priority Area: health systems strengthening. The mechanism will address a weakness in one of the pillars of the health system- H R capacity, by improving the quality and skills of existing laboratory personnel and build in country mentoring capacity. The mentorship program addresses both quality mgt of systems and lab tech skills, increasing the coverage of quality lab diagnosis of HIV/AIDS OIs and microbiology capacity at all levels. The IM will be more cost efficient by increasing the number of in-country microbiology mentors. Activities will include expansion of the mentorship program to MTCs and additional labs at provincial and county level. Any gaps that may impact the quality of microbiology services or progress toward accreditation goals at those facilities will be identified. Targets are based upon indicator HR for Health - # of workers completing an in-service training program. The end goal is to transfer mentoring skills to local Kenyan lab workers in order to sustain the program. Activities in Kenya will be conducted in alignment with ASM's monitoring and evaluation framework and in accordance with MOHs. For mentoring activities, tech skill is measured through tools such as competency testing; lab progress is measured through a series of assessments and monthly quality indicators.Obj 1. Strengthen Capacity and Leadership of the CMRL. This will involve continued training of CMRL staff in support of WHO/AFRO accreditation efforts Key activities include onsite training in new reference or specialized diagnostic microbiology procedures; mentoring in quality management systems to ensure quality, efficient operation and workflow.Obj 2. Strengthen Microbiology Services for the Lab Network. A key activity will be to establish a local microbiology mentoring program to oversee county labsObj 3 Strengthen microbiology training capacity of MTCs and a key activity will be training college faculty mentors in microbiology.This activity supports GHI/LLC.

Key Issues Identified in Mechanism
enumerations.Malaria (PMI)
Safe Motherhood
Tuberculosis